Jio Cinema, Viacom18, Disney Star Merger Deal Concluded: JioHotstar Domain Transfer Deal Settled
RIL has just reported the successful closure of an unprecedented merger between Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Jio Cinema, and SIPL from the House of Walt Disney Company. As Reliance Industries consolidates its influence in the media and entertainment space, this merger will value the strategic JV at a whopping ₹70,352 crore, or $8.5 billion on a post-money basis. The merger is a transformer for the digital entertainment landscape while, importantly, putting an end to the much-talked-about ownership tussle over the JioHotstar.com domain.
- The Landmark Merger: A New Era in Indian Entertainment
- Management Team
- JioHotstar Domain Ownership Tussle Resolved
- Dubai Siblings Come Forward
- Timeline for the Domain Transfer
- Purchase by Dubai Siblings
- Siblings Deny Rumors of a Deal or Pressure
- Significance of the JioHotstar.com Domain Transfer
- Potential Uses by Reliance
- Conclusion: A New Chapter for Jio Cinema and Disney Star
The Landmark Merger: A New Era in Indian Entertainment
Equity Shareholding in the JV
The ownership of the new JV will be held by Reliance Industries, with the stakes divided as follows:
- Reliance Industries Limited (RIL): 16.34%
- Viacom18 Media: 46.82%
- Disney Star: 36.84%
Management Team
To ease the operations, the three separate CEOs have been designed to manage the JV.
- Kevin Vaz: To run entertainment
- Kiran Mani: Leading the digital division
- Sanjog Gupta: Managing sports
This collaborative leadership structure is designed to drive innovation and focus across multiple entertainment segments.
JioHotstar Domain Ownership Tussle Resolved
The announcement of the merger has coincided with the resolution of a long-standing issue related to the JioHotstar.com domain. The relatively new name, which drew attention to its association with the merged media companies, was finally decided to be handed over to Reliance Industries.
Dubai Siblings Come Forward
Siblings Jainam and Jivika, who are currently the proprietors of the domain, recently announced they were transferring it to Reliance for free. The open letter that was posted on the website shared the news: “We have an important update to share: Reliance IP Legal team has approached us, and we will be transferring this domain to them, free of charge.
Their decision has ended all speculations and rumors going on social media sites about who owns the domain.
Timeline for the Domain Transfer
The twins clarified the process involved in the transfer, saying that the domain’s transfer will be done only after the deal with Reliance is signed.
- Travelled to Mumbai: They were invited to Mumbai for the final agreement to be signed by the siblings.
- Waiting for Draft: The company is waiting for the draft of the deal that it will get from Reliance.
- Closing Down the Website: After the handover, JioHotstar.com website will not exist thereafter.
The clear communication of this transaction has assured the followers and observers that the transfer is a friendly gesture in which there is no financial or legal compulsion.
The domain JioHotstar.com was registered last year by a Delhi-based app developer. This was against the backdrop of speculation over the proposed merger between Reliance Jio and Disney Hotstar.
The developer later demanded funding for his higher education at Cambridge University in return for transferring ownership to the domain. Reliance turned down the offer, and the domain was sold to the Dubai-based siblings.
Purchase by Dubai Siblings
The siblings purchased the domain from the developer and kept headlines after the announcement of the merger. Industry observers believe their intervention smoothed out the controversy, paving the way for a smoother transfer process.
Siblings Deny Rumors of a Deal or Pressure
Denying recent allegations on social media that there was a payment or deal involved in the transfer, the siblings released their latest update on the process:
“There have been some rumors floating around online suggesting that there is a payment or deal involved, but we want to make it clear—this is not true.”
They further buttressed, This is purely a transfer of the domain from our side because we feel it could come in handy for them. Whether or not they choose to use it is up to them.
In addition, the siblings denied receiving any kind of pressure from outside to surrender the domain. According to them, it was an entirely voluntary decision.
Significance of the JioHotstar.com Domain Transfer
Domain JioHotstar.com assumes a huge strategic significance since it represents the integration of two giant entertainment platforms—Reliance Jio and Disney Hotstar.
Potential Uses by Reliance
In spite of the fact that the brothers transferred the domain absolutely free with any conditions, industry observers believe Reliance might use it:
- Strengthen the branding of its digital platforms.
- United look experience of Jio Cinema and Disney Star audience.
- This is in line with Reliance’s objective of dominating the OTT and telco convergence market.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Jio Cinema and Disney Star
The completion of the merger and resolution of the controversy over the JioHotstar.com domain name have been significant for Reliance Industries. Valued at ₹70,352 crore, this merger is expected to redefine the entertainment and digital media landscape in the country.
For Jainam and Jivika, selling the domain is something of a selfless act toward this bigger goal, which will be appreciated everywhere. As the siblings bid goodbye to the domain, Reliance is all set to take their digital and entertainment ecosystem to new heights.
