JioStar to Lay Off 1,100 Employees Following Viacom18 and Walt Disney Merger

JioStar plans to cut around 1,100 jobs to eliminate overlapping roles after its parent company, Viacom18, merged with The Walt Disney in November 2024, according to a report by Mint citing multiple informed sources.

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The layoffs, which reportedly started a month ago, are expected to continue until June 2025 as part of the merger-driven restructuring process aimed at removing redundant roles.

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Sources familiar with the situation, who spoke to Mint under anonymity, revealed that the job cuts will mainly affect corporate roles in distribution, finance, commercial, and legal departments.

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The merger between Viacom18 and Disney’s Star India created JioStar, now India’s largest media and entertainment company. The new entity seeks to boost efficiency and prioritize high-growth areas, particularly in sports and online streaming.

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Whenever two large companies with similar businesses merge, redundancies are inevitable. This restructuring is about optimizing resources and reducing duplication, ensuring the joint venture

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operates as a leaner and more efficient entity,” an industry executive monitoring the developments told Mint.

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