Bharti Airtel, Tata Play end talks on DTH merger

The telecom titan, Bharti Airtel, has officially called off discussions with the Tata Group regarding a potential Direct-To-Home (DTH) business merger.

Bharti Airtel, on May 3, 2025, informed the stock exchanges that it has ended discussions with the Tata Group regarding a potential merger of their DTH businesses. In its regulatory filing, the company stated that the discussions were mutually terminated as both parties were unable to reach a ‘satisfactory resolution’.

In a regulatory filing to both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Bharti Airtel said that talks to explore a possible combination of Tata Play — the Tata Group’s DTH business — with Bharti Telemedia have been called off. Bharti Telemedia is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel.

“This is in reference to our intimation dated February 26, 2025… 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 company stated in the filing signed by Rohit Krishan Puri, Joint Company Secretary and Compliance Officer.

The talks, which had been ongoing for over two months, aimed at consolidating operations in India’s highly competitive DTH space, where players are facing pressure from the rapid growth of OTT platforms and internet-based streaming services.

Tata Play, formerly Tata Sky, is one of the leading DTH service providers in India, alongside Airtel Digital TV and Dish TV. A combination would have significantly altered the market reform by combining the top two players.

However, the companies did not disclose any specific reasons for the breakdown in talks. The announcement confirms that both sides have opted to go their separate ways without proceeding to a formal deal.

The following development marks the end of what could have been one of the largest consolidations in India’s DTH industry. Shares of Bharti Airtel were trading flat following the announcement.