JioStar begins layoffs after merger, over 1,100 face the axe
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Mumbai: JioStar will lay off more than 1,100 employees as the newly formed joint venture between Reliance Industries Ltd's Viacom18 and The Walt Disney Co.'s India unit cuts overlapping roles following the merger, said multiple people aware of the development. “The departures started a month ago, and they are not ending anytime soon," said one of the people quoted above.
The layoffs will continue till June, the people said. The job cuts are primarily affecting corporate roles in distribution, finance, commercial, and legal departments, nearly a dozen people who spoke with Mint confirmed, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They said the layoffs include entry-level employees, senior managers, senior directors and even those at the assistant vice-president level.
“So far, sports has remained untouched because the Champions Trophy, Women's Premier League (WPL), and Indian Premier League (IPL) are scheduled back-to-back," said these people. Several regional entertainment channels, including Colors Kannada and Colors Bangla, have seen significant workforce reductions, they said. Industry executives indicate that Disney Star already has a strong presence in key regional markets, which may lead to future rationalization at Viacom18's regional channels.
However, JioStar is gearing also up to expand its sports portfolio, with new channels expected to be launched. A JioStar spokesperson declined to comment on the layoffs. With Viacom18 and Disney's Star India merger creating India's largest media company, JioStar is consolidating businesses to improve efficiencies and focus on high-growth verticals, particularly sports and digital streaming.
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