6 days ago
Disney’s India JV Loss Narrows as JioStar Reports Turnaround
Disney and Reliance joined some of their media businesses in India to create JioStar.
Disney still lost money from this venture, but its loss became smaller.
The loss was $44 million in the latest quarter, compared with $50 million the year before.
JioStar’s sales grew strongly during FY26.
Its profit also rose from ₹18 crore to ₹3,145 crore.
The company includes television channels, streaming services, entertainment assets and sports properties.
Sports rights, especially for cricket, continue to cost the company a lot of money.
Overall, the numbers show that Disney’s India business is improving, even though it has not yet become fully profitable for Disney.
Disney reported a $44 million loss from its India venture in the quarter ended June 27, down from $50 million a year earlier.
Disney’s loss for the first nine months fell to $136 million from $186 million.
JioStar’s FY26 operating revenue rose 46.5% to ₹30,819 crore from ₹21,044 crore.
JioStar’s profit after tax increased to ₹3,145 crore from ₹18 crore in FY25.
JioStar lowered its provision for onerous sports contracts to ₹17,742 crore, though premium cricket rights remain a major expense.
- Who
- The Walt Disney Company and Reliance Industries’ media joint venture, JioStar.
- What
- Disney’s loss from the Indian venture narrowed while JioStar reported sharply higher revenue and profit.
- Where
- India.
- When
- The quarter ended June 27, 2026, and FY26; the articles identify the comparison period as the previous year.
- Why
- The improvement reflects stronger JioStar financial performance, although high costs for premium sports content continue to weigh on the business.
Key facts
- Quarterly Disney loss
- $44 million for the quarter ended June 27, down from $50 million a year earlier.
- Nine-month Disney loss
- $136 million, compared with $186 million in the corresponding period.
- JioStar FY26 revenue
- ₹30,819 crore, up 46.5% from ₹21,044 crore.
- JioStar FY26 profit after tax
- ₹3,145 crore, compared with ₹18 crore in FY25.
- Sports-contract provision
- ₹17,742 crore at the end of FY26, down from ₹25,760 crore a year earlier.
- JioStar formation
- Created by combining Disney’s Star India television and streaming operations with Reliance-backed Viacom18.
Sources
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