In a confidential submission to the antitrust body in May, Reliance Industries and Walt Disney said that their merger would not harm competition
The CCI has now sought further details through two sets of questions, including why YouTube should be considered in the same market as subscription streaming services
In response, Reliance and Disney have argued that YouTube also offers licenced, paid content and boasts a wide reach
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has intensified its scrutiny of the $8.5 Bn merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney’s India media assets, reportedly asking the companies nearly 100 questions, including specifics on sports rights.
In a confidential submission to the antitrust body in May, Reliance and Disney said that their merger would not harm competition. The companies argued that the cricket rights, which will expire in 2027 and 2028, will open up opportunities for rival bidders. They also highlighted that advertisers would still be able to target cricket audiences effectively.
The CCI has now sought further details through two sets of questions, including why YouTube, which primarily features free, user-generated content, should be considered in the same market as subscription streaming services like Netflix and Disney, news agency Reuters reported.
In response, Reliance and Disney have argued that YouTube also offers licenced, paid content and boasts a wide reach.
The CCI has also inquired about the ownership and duration of sports rights held by the companies, as well as details on previous bidders for these rights.
However, the report added that the CCI is not currently raising concerns about the rights but is gathering information.
