Airtel and Tata Group end merger talks for DTH business

irtel was holding discussions with the salt-to-software conglomerate for the merger of Bharti Telemedia, which offers cable and satellite TV services, with Tata Play.

Leading telecom services provider Bharti Airtel on Saturday said that it has called off the talks with the Tata Group for the merger of its loss-making Direct-To-Home (DTH) business.

In a regulatory filing Bharti Airtel said, "This is in reference to our intimation dated February 26, 2025, wherein the company informed that it is in bilateral discussions with TATA Group to explore a potential combination of TATA Group’s Direct To Home (‘DTH’) business housed under Tata Play Limited with Bharti Telemedia Limited, a subsidiary of the company."

"In this regard, we wish to inform you that after not being able to find a satisfactory resolution, the parties have mutually decided to terminate the discussions," the statement further added.

Tata Sky began its services in 2004 as a joint venture between Tata Sons and Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. In March 2019, the Walt Disney Company purchased 21st Century Fox's stake in the company. The DTH provider was rechristened as Tata Play in 2022.Also Read:  Airtel confirms talks with Tata Group on merger of DTH business

Earlier, Airtel was holding discussions with the salt-to-software conglomerate for the merger of Bharti Telemedia, which offers cable and satellite TV services, with Tata Play.

"We wish to submit that Bharti Airtel and Tata Group are in bilateral discussions to explore a potential transaction to achieve a combination of Tata Group’s DTH business housed under Tata Play Ltd, with Bharti Telemedia, a subsidiary of Airtel, in a structure acceptable to all parties," Airtel said in a regulatory filing earlier.