Sources say Disney is considering selling its Indian business or looking for a partner

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizens for the delivery of clues about the past. CTOnews.com, July 12 (Reuters)-Disney is exploring the possibility of selling its Indian digital and television business or looking for a joint venture partner, people familiar with the matter said today.

▲ source Pexels sources said the talks were at a "very early stage" and that Disney had so far not approached any potential buyers or partners and it was not clear how the process would proceed. He also said the Disney internal discussion was driven by executives at the US headquarters.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the Disney talks and said the company had contacted at least one bank to find ways to help grow its business in India and to share some of the costs.

The discussion comes at a time when Disney is under increasing pressure over the emergence of Indian streaming platform JioCinema. Behind the JioCinema is Reliance Industries Group of Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man, which has been expanding rapidly by offering free access to the Indian Super Cricket League (IPL), which Disney previously transferred digital rights to JioCinema.

CLSA, a research firm, estimates that the number of users of IPL services in India has fallen by nearly 5 million after the loss of Disney+ Hotstar digital rights.

Disney's Indian operations include Disney Hotstar streaming and Star India, which Disney took over when it acquired 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets in 2019. Sources said that when Disney bought the Fox business, the Indian business was worth about $15-16 billion (CTOnews.com Note: currently about 1081.5-115.36 billion yuan), so it is difficult to find a new buyer in India who can eat the business in one go.

Star India, which changed its name to Disney Star last year, owns dozens of television channels and a stake in a film production company.