Merger talks stall between Dish TV & Airtel

Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV have stalled their merger over differences of the company’s structure, according to reports. However, Bharti Airtel’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) arm-Airtel Digital TV continues to offer its shares, post local reports on a possible merger last year.

A subsidiary of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Dish TV India Ltd, has opted to explore a sale of the business for cash instead of an all-stock merger. Meanwhile, Subhash Chandra, the Chairman of Essel Group has been selling the company’s asset to pare debts. Last year, the company sold 16 per cent of their stake to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.

Though the two major groups, Dish TV and Airtel Digital TV have refused to comment on this, people close to the groups, said that no final decisions have been made so far and hence, discussions between the two companies could still be revived anytime.

At the time of market closing, the stock of Dish TV India Ltd was trading at Rs 13.42, up by 4.93 per cent against its previous close of Rs 12.79 while the stock of Bharti Airtel Ltd was trading at Rs 511.35, up by 0.41 per cent against its previous close of Rs 509.25 on BSE.