Firms like Reliance Industries, Sun Pharmaceuticals and Hindustan Unilever are moving into categories beyond their original competencies in India, continuing the trend towards big conglomerates.

Reliance, one of India's biggest holding companies, and active in sectors from retail to energy, has entered the media industry via a tie-up with Network18 Group, the broadcaster.

This alliance was linked to Reliance's upcoming roll out of a 4G broadband wireless network, which will receive preferential access to Network18's content.