A Delhi-based app developer is taking an unconventional approach to fund his dream of studying at Cambridge University by putting up the domain name jiohotstar.com for sale.
The developer has created a minimalist website at the domain, aiming to catch the attention of decision-makers at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Viacom18, particularly as they undergo a major merger with Disney Star.
This move appears well-timed, following the approvals in August 2024 by both the Competition Commission of India and the National Company Law Tribunal for the £6.7 billion ($8.5 billion) merger between Disney Star and RIL’s Viacom18. This deal is expected to form India’s largest entertainment network.
On the website, the developer explains how he spotted the opportunity: “While scrolling through social media in early 2023, I noticed reports of Disney+ Hotstar’s dropping daily active users due to losing the IPL streaming rights. Speculation about a potential sale or merger with an Indian company followed.”
Domain parking, a practice where individuals buy web addresses in hopes of reselling them later, has been around for a while. In this case, the developer hopes the domain will gain value due to its potential connection to the merger.
In a recent update, the developer shared that Ambujesh Yadav, Associate Vice President of Commercials at Reliance, had reached out. However, their response wasn’t the one he had hoped for—his request for £93,345, equal to his Cambridge EMBA tuition, was declined. The company, instead, suggested they might take legal action.
“I hope they reconsider. A group this large could help,” he expressed on the site, stating he hadn’t infringed any trademarks, as “JioHotstar didn’t exist when I bought the domain in 2023.”
Industry experts are keen to see whether this domain could play a role in the ongoing merger, especially as the future of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema unfolds. For now, it remains uncertain whether Reliance will reconsider his offer or if his Cambridge aspirations will be funded through this unique online venture.