Reliance-Disney’s JioStar Launches Legal Battle Against Zee Over Bollywood Film Rights
India’s leading media giant JioStar, the entertainment venture backed by Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company, has initiated legal action against rival Zee Entertainment Enterprises over the alleged unauthorised broadcast of Bollywood films. According to legal documents reviewed by Reuters, JioStar claims Zee aired 12 films nearly 20 times despite the broadcast rights belonging to JioStar during that period.
The dispute marks another escalation in the ongoing rivalry between the two broadcasters, who are already involved in a $1 billion arbitration linked to a failed cricket rights agreement in 2024. JioStar alleges Zee illegally telecast several blockbuster films, including classics such as Deewaar and Tridev, as well as the Aamir Khan hit Dangal. In its legal filing, JioStar described Zee as a “habitual infringer” and accused the company of repeatedly exploiting films without authorisation.
Zee, however, denied wrongdoing and stated that some broadcasts were “inadvertent and unintentional.” The company also argued that it had valid permission from production houses in certain cases, including Dangal. The matter has now reached the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee for mediation, with Zee directed to appear before the panel on May 25. Industry observers say the dispute highlights growing competition and legal tensions in India’s rapidly expanding $30 billion entertainment sector.
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