Disney, Reliance overcome cricket concerns to win approval for $8.5 billion India merger

Walt Disney Co and Reliance Industries won approval on Wednesday for an $8.5 billion merger of their Indian media assets after assuaging regulatory worries about their grip on broadcasting rights for cricket, India's favourite sport.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said the deal had been approved subject to modifications submitted voluntarily by the companies, without sharing further details. A detailed order will be issued in coming days, clearing what was seen as the biggest hurdle for the deal.

To get the merger over the line, the two companies have offered concessions, including a commitment to not raise advertising rates unreasonably for streamed cricket matches, and to sell 7-8 non-sports TV channels, a source familiar with the matter said.

The merger will create India's biggest entertainment player to compete with with Sony, Netflix and Amazon with 120 TV channels and two streaming services.

It will also give Reliance owner Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest person, a stronger hold on the $28 billion media and entertainment sector. The regulatory nod comes a day before Ambani is set to address Reliance shareholders at its Annual General Meeting.

After asking Reliance and Disney around 100 questions related to the merger, the CCI raised concerns the new entity would control most cricket rights for TV and streaming in India, and could hurt advertisers.

Cricket has a fanatical following in India, the world's most populous country with an estimated 1.4 billion people.

Reliance and Disney have spent roughly $9.5 billion in recent years for TV and streaming rights for the world's richest cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, the International Cricket Council's matches such as the one-day and T20 World Cups,