Amid final stage of Reliance Disney merger, news of series of resignations are being reported in Disney, which may impact over the new management after the merger.
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As the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance Industries and Disney’s Indian media assets nears completion, Disney Star is likely to lose another significant leader. Mihir Rale, Disney Star’s Chief Regional Counsel and a key legal strategist, is likely stepping down soon, according to a report by Economic Times.
The anticipated merger between Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance and Disney’s Star India, reported to complete in early November, will create India’s largest media conglomerate, valued at $8.5 billion. Once approved, this merger will see Viacom18 assets transferred to Star India, making Star the primary company managing operations.
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Resignation Before Reliance Disney Merger
Prior to Mihir Rale resignation news, there were also other departures reported by Disney Star executives, including Sajith Sivanandan, the head of Disney+ Hotstar in India, and K Madhavan, former Country Manager and President of Disney Star. This wave of executive exits comes as Disney’s Indian operations undergo major restructuring.
Mihir Rale joined Star India in 2009 as a manager and has held several pivotal roles, and eventually rose to Chief Regional Counsel in 2019. Over his tenure, he contributed to a wide range of key initiatives.
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Mihir Rale Career
Rale helped to create the Media Pro joint venture and played an integral role in Star India’s acquisition of ESPN’s stake in ESPN Star Sports, setting the stage for exclusive sports content. Rale established joint ventures supporting Star’s football and Kabaddi programs, helping popularize these sports through targeted initiatives.
Rale was essential in securing major sports broadcasting rights, including IPL, BCCI, and ICC rights, and facilitated the launch of Disney+ Hotstar in India, a milestone for Star India in streaming.
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Mihir Rale’s Key Contributions
Throughout his tenure at Disney Star, Mihir Rale played a central role in numerous transformative developments. He led the sale of Star’s stakes in the home shopping venture Star CJ and news platform Star News. Rale also helped Star India acquire an indirect stake in Tata Sky and facilitated the buyout of the promoter’s stake in Asianet.
Rale handled antitrust clearances and investigations for various acquisitions, most notably managing regulatory approvals for acquiring Maa TV. He spearheaded legal battles concerning sports signal sharing with Prasar Bharati, reducing revenue losses for sports broadcasters. He also challenged multiple TRAI regulations to protect industry interests and freedom of expression.
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Mihir Rale also led Disney Star’s efforts in addressing accessibility standards and advocating for balanced OTT revenue sharing for infrastructure providers.
Mihir Rale Education
Starting his career as a litigation lawyer at Haresh Jagtiani & Associates in the Bombay High Court, Mihir Rale later joined AZB & Partners, where he managed legal disputes and handled corporate legal work. He holds an LLB and a Bachelor’s degree in Socio-Legal Sciences from the Indian Law Society’s Law College at the University of Pune.
