Moghul on the Prowl

The chairman of Reliance Industries is keen on creating a synergy of telecom, retail and media businesses never seen before

- Ayaan Kartik

Ten years ago, at the 2014 annual general meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani had made his vision clear. Talking about the conglomerate’s decision to acquire the media company Viacom18, Ambani said, “[The acquisition will] differentiate and strengthen our 4G business at the unique intersection of telecom, web, digital commerce and the media through a suite of premier digital properties.”

A decade of big moves in the media sector later, Ambani’s decision to acquire Disney Hotstar this year has set the stage for Reliance’s dominance of India’s online streaming space. The joint venture, valued at Rs 70,532 crore, will allow Ambani to corner a significant portion of the market share against players like Sony and Zee.

The acquisition of Disney Hotstar could allow Reliance to cause the kind of disruption Jio had caused in the telecom sector a few years ago. The Jio experience is evidence of how Ambani can change the dynamics of a sector in a matter of months with a smart pricing strategy.

Perpetual Disruptor

The ‘disruptor’ tag is often reserved for young entrepreneurs in the start-up ecosystem. But few entrepreneurs can disrupt an industry in the manner of Ambani.