The Indian conglomerate Reliance and Viacom18 have inked a strategic partnership with Bodhi Tree, an “investment platform” run by James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems and former Disney executive Uday Shankar, in a push to turn the Ambani-backed network, which operates over three dozen television channels in nine languages and streaming services, into “one of the largest TV and digital streaming companies” in the world’s second largest internet market.
Bodhi Tree is leading a $1.78 billion investment in Viacom18, which also counts Paramount Global among its backers, as part of the partnership, the companies said Wednesday.
The collaboration will also see JioCinema, an on-demand video streaming service owned by Reliance, transferred to Viacom18, the firms said. Reliance Projects and Property Ma …
