The newly formed media giant JioStar, a joint venture between Reliance and Disney, is undergoing significant workforce reductions. According to a Mint report, over 1,100 roles are being cut to eliminate redundancies and streamline operations.
The layoffs began in February and are expected to continue until June 2025, impacting a wide range of positions from entry-level roles to assistant vice presidents.
Sports Division Safe, Regional Networks Hit Hard
Despite the job cuts, employees in JioStar’s sports division are reportedly secure. This team manages the broadcast of major tournaments, including:
- Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Women’s Premier League (WPL)
- Champions Trophy
In contrast, staff working on regional entertainment networks like Colors Kannada and Colors Bangla are facing sharper workforce reductions.
JioStar aims to achieve ₹5,000 crore in ad sales during IPL 2025, underlining the strategic importance of its sports broadcasting arm.
Why the Layoffs?
Formed in November 2024, JioStar merged Reliance’s Viacom18 and Disney’s Star India, creating an $8.5 billion media powerhouse. The launch of JioHotstar in February 2025 combined the content libraries of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, serving 500 million users with over 300,000 hours of content.
However, with overlapping departments and roles, the company is now restructuring to become “leaner and more efficient.”
Severance Packages for Affected Employees
Employees impacted by the layoffs will receive generous severance benefits, including:
- 6-12 months’ salary, based on tenure.
- One month’s salary for every year served.
- Notice period compensation.
Some employees may also be offered roles within Reliance or its subsidiaries, providing alternative career paths post-layoff.
