Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has officially taken ownership of the domain JioHotstar, ending months of legal and commercial debates. The latest WHOis records list Manish Painuly, Senior Director at Viacom18, as the registrant and administrative contact for the domain, now registered under Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The domain’s history has seen multiple owners, starting with a Delhi-based engineer who first registered it. This engineer reportedly offered to transfer the domain to Reliance Jio in exchange for financial support for his education at Cambridge University, an offer that Reliance declined. Ownership later shifted to Dubai-based siblings Jainam and Jivika.
Speculations about financial transactions or coercion surrounded the transfer, but the siblings voluntarily handed over the domain to Reliance’s legal team last month without any payment. They stated their decision was made in good faith, hoping the domain would benefit Reliance.
The JioHotstar domain had gained attention due to its association with two major brands, Reliance Jio and Disney+ Hotstar, amidst earlier rumors of a potential merger. Its acquisition strengthens Reliance’s digital presence, now firmly under Viacom18’s banner.
Viacom18, a joint venture between Reliance Industries’ TV18 and Paramount Global, offers a wide range of entertainment through its television channels, digital platforms, and film production. It operates popular channels such as Colors, MTV India, Nickelodeon, and VH1, and has recently expanded its digital footprint through JioCinema, which gained massive traction as the official digital streaming partner for the IPL.
Manish Painuly, Senior Director at Viacom18, played a pivotal role in this transition. With over 16 years of experience, Painuly specializes in digital transformation and has overseen Viacom18’s digital products like VOOT. His expertise in web strategy, IT optimization, and project management has been instrumental in strengthening Viacom18’s digital ecosystem.
The acquisition of JioHotstar marks the conclusion of an extended ownership dispute and solidifies Reliance’s growing influence in the digital entertainment landscape.
