Reliace's Viacom18 officially acquires jiohotstar.com domain name
Mumbai: Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has officially acquired ownership of the domain jiohotstar. com, concluding a prolonged period of legal and commercial disputes, Business Standard reported.
According to updated WHOis records, a senior director at Viacom18, Manish Painuly, is listed as the registrant and administrative contact.
The domain is now registered under Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Initially registered by a Delhi-based engineer, the domain changed hands multiple times before landing with Reliance.
The engineer had reportedly sought financial assistance for his Cambridge University education in exchange for the domain, but Reliance declined.
Ownership then transferred to Dubai-based siblings Jainam and Jivika, who later handed the domain over to Reliance's legal team last month.
Contrary to media speculation about potential financial transactions or coercion, the siblings denied any such arrangements.
They stressed their decision to transfer the domain was voluntary, motivated by the belief that it would benefit Reliance.
Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd operates a broad portfolio of television channels, including Colors, MTV India, Nickelodeon, and VH1. It also has a growing digital presence through JioCinema, which gained significant traction as the official IPL streaming partner.
The company is a joint venture between Reliance Industries' TV18 and Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS).
Manish Painuly’s role has been instrumental in driving the company's digital transformation during his 16-year tenure.
His expertise spans web strategy, project management, and IT cost optimization, with a particular focus on managing Viacom18’s digital platforms, including VOOT, as per his LinkedIn profile.
With this final transfer, Reliance has solidified its control over jiohotstar. com, bringing an end to the protracted ownership debate tied to two prominent brands, Reliance Jio and Disney+ Hotstar.
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