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India antitrust body alerts Disney, Reliance media merger will harm competitors - sources

India's antitrust body has reached an initial evaluation that the $8.5 billion India merger of Dependence and Walt Disney media properties hurts competition due to their power over cricket broadcast rights, four sources informed Reuters on Tuesday.

In the biggest problem so far to their planned merger, the Competitors Commission of India (CCI) has privately informed Disney and Dependence its view and asked the companies to explain why an examination shouldn't be bought, one of the sources said.

Dependence, Disney and CCI did not immediately respond to ask for remark. All sources decreased to be named as the CCI procedure is confidential.

Cricket is the biggest pain point for the CCI, stated one of the sources.

The merged company, which would be majority owned by Asia's. wealthiest guy Mukesh Ambani's Reliance, would have. financially rewarding rights worth billions of dollars for the broadcast of. cricket, raising fears over prices power and its grip over. advertisers.

Antitrust experts had alerted the merger, revealed in. February, might face intense examination as it will develop India's. greatest entertainment gamer which will take on Sony. , Zee Home Entertainment, Netflix and. Amazon with a combined 120 television channels and 2. streaming services.

The CCI previously independently asked Reliance and Disney around. 100 questions related to the merger. The business have actually informed the. guard dog they want to offer less than 10 tv. channels to relieve concerns about market power and win an early. approval, sources informed Reuters.

The companies can still attend to the concerns of the CCI by. providing more concessions, a second source said, including that the. notice in the meantime is a precursor of things getting made complex.

The notice suggests that initially the CCI believes the merger. damages competitors and whatever concessions provided are not. enough, included the individual.

A 3rd source stated CCI has provided the business thirty days to. respond and explain their position.

(source: Reuters)