The domain jiohotstar.com is now formally owned by Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, a Reliance Industries affiliate, after months of legal and business conflicts. The registrant and administrative contact is Manish Painuly, senior director of Viacom18, according to the most recent WHOis records.
According to documents, the domain is registered under Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, which has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
From Delhi to Mumbai via Dubai
Jainam and Jivika, siblings from Dubai, acquired the domain after it was first registered by an engineer from Delhi.
In the middle of discussions about a possible merger, the domain’s history links it to well-known companies, Reliance Jio and Disney+ Hotstar. In return for the domain, the Delhi-based engineer first sought funding for his studies at Cambridge University, a request that Reliance allegedly turned down. It was then purchased by the Dubai siblings, who then gave ownership to Reliance.
Following media rumors of financial or forced arrangements, as previously reported by Business Standard, the siblings gave the domain to Reliance’s legal team last month for free. In the hopes that the domain would help Reliance, they said their decision was voluntary and denied any coercion or reward.
Manish Painuly and Viacom18
Viacom18 Media produces a wide variety of material for digital platforms, television, and motion pictures. Paramount Global (previously ViacomCBS) and TV18, a division of Reliance Industries, have partnered to create the business.
Among the well-known channels run by Viacom18 are Colors, MTV India, Nickelodeon, and VH1. Particularly since being the exclusive digital streaming partner for the Indian Premier League, JioCinema, its digital division, has also garnered popularity.
Having worked with Viacom18 for more than 16 years, Manish Painuly is a senior director. Painuly’s LinkedIn page states that the digital transformation at Viacom18 is the main focus of his job. Using his skills in online planning, project management, and IT cost optimization, Painuly has overseen Viacom18’s digital products, including VOOT.
The prolonged ownership dispute has been settled with this last transfer, which firmly establishes Reliance’s authority over the domain.
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