JioHotstar domain acquired by Delhi-based app developer, he now wants Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance…

A Delhi-based app developer has bought the domain jiohotstar.com in anticipation of the merger between Reliance’s Viacom18 and Disney+ Hotstar. The developer, a startup founder, intends to sell the domain to Reliance, hoping to fund his dream of studying at Cambridge University.

The merger between Star India (operator of Disney+ Hotstar) and Viacom18 (owned by Reliance Industries) was cleared earlier this year by regulatory authorities including the Competition Commission of India and the National Company Law Tribunal. It is expected to consolidate both streaming platforms under one brand.

On the website jiohotstar.com, the developer wrote an open letter to Reliance, sharing how they saw the domain name’s potential while reading news about Hotstar’s possible sale. The developer believes that “JioHotstar” would be a perfect brand for the merged entity and expects Reliance to negotiate a buyout.

Someone bought the JioHotstar domain (before the merger) and wants Reliance to fund their higher studies by selling the domain.

Really hope they can get a good payout from this! pic.twitter.com/uBjvgVgqZG

– pea bee (@prstb) October 23, 2024

“I thought, ‘If they acquire Hotstar, they can rename it JioHotstar.com,’” the developer wrote, explaining his reasoning. They hope to use the proceeds from the domain sale to fund their studies at Cambridge University.

Domain parking, where individuals purchase domain names in hopes of profiting from future sales, is a common speculative practice. It remains to be seen whether Reliance will engage with the developer on this branding opportunity as the merger progresses.

The $8.5 billion merger between Reliance and Walt Disney aims to combine content from Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema into a single platform, fueling curiosity about which brand will emerge after the merger.