Jio-Hotstar website domain now with Viacom 18: Children from Dubai gave it, Delhi app developer bought it
The Jio Hotstar website (jiohotstar.com) domain has been transferred to Reliance-owned Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd. The updated WHOIS record confirms that Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd is the new owner of the domain.
This domain is associated with the merger branding of India’s two largest entertainment and telecom companies Reliance Jio and Disney+ Hotstar. In fact, a Delhi-based app developer had bought the Jio Hotstar domain and had demanded £93,345 (about Rs 94 lakh) from Reliance in exchange for the domain.
When Reliance did not accept the demand, the developer sold the domain to two children living in Dubai. After that both the children had said that they would transfer this domain to Reliance Jio for free, they do not need any money for this. The app developer bought the domain in 2023 when talks of the JioCinema-Hotstar merger had just started.
The WHOIS data of the domain was last updated on December 2
WHOIS data also revealed that the domain is owned by Mukesh Ambani-owned Viacom 18, registered on September 20, 2023 and valid till September 20, 2026, with the last update recorded on December 2, 2024. The registrar, administrative and technical contact for jiohotstar.com is listed as Manish Penuli, representing Viacom 18 Media Private Limited.
Reliance-Disney merger happened 20 days ago
20 days ago on November 14, Disney Star India and Reliance’s Viacom-18 merged. This also includes Disney Hotstar and Jio Cinema. After this merger, it has become the largest entertainment network in the country. Disney-Reliance Entertainment now has 75 crore viewers with 2 Over the Top i.e., OTT and 120 channels. Reliance has invested Rs 11,500 crore for this joint venture. The merger process was going on for the last one year.
Both the companies issued a statement saying- ‘This deal has been done for Rs 70,352 crore. Reliance will have 63.16% stake and Disney will have 36.84% stake in the company formed after the merger. The chairperson of this new company will be Nita Ambani. The vice chairperson will be Uday Shankar. He will give strategic guidance to the company.
