Viacom18 Becomes Official Owner of JioHotstar Domain

New Delhi: Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has officially acquired the domain jiohotstar.com, resolving months of legal and commercial disputes.

According to the latest WHOIS records, Manish Painuly, Senior Director at Viacom18, is listed as the registrant and administrative contact. The domain is registered to Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd., which is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, as indicated by the records.

The domain was initially registered by an engineer from Delhi, who subsequently transferred it to Jainam and Jivika, siblings based in Dubai. This domain has connections to the well-known brands Reliance Jio and Disney+ Hotstar, amid discussions of a possible merger. The engineer from Delhi first requested financial support for his studies at Cambridge University in exchange for the domain, a proposal that Reliance is said to have turned down. Later, the domain was acquired by the Dubai siblings, who then passed it on to Reliance.

Last month, the siblings voluntarily transferred the domain to Reliance’s legal team without any cost, amidst rumours of financial or coercive deals, as previously reported by Business Standard. They refuted any claims of compensation or pressure, expressing their wish for the domain to be of use to Reliance.

Viacom18 Media provides a wide array of content spanning television, digital platforms, and film production. It is a joint venture between TV18 of Reliance Industries and Paramount Global (previously known as ViacomCBS).

Viacom18 is the force behind well-known channels like Colors, MTV India, Nickelodeon, and VH1. Its digital branch, JioCinema, has also seen significant growth, particularly after becoming the official digital streaming partner for the IPL.

Manish Painuly, a senior director at Viacom18, has contributed over 16 years to the company. His LinkedIn profile indicates that Painuly’s responsibilities are centered around Viacom18’s digital transformation. He has overseen the management of Viacom18’s digital offerings, including VOOT, applying his skills in web strategy, project management, and IT cost optimization. The recent finalization of this transfer cements Reliance’s hold over the domain, concluding the prolonged debate over ownership.