In an unexpected move, a Delhi-based app developer secured the domain JioHotstar.com, anticipating the merger between Reliance JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. This speculative purchase has made headlines as the developer aims to leverage it to fund his studies at Cambridge University. Addressing Reliance executives via an open letter on the domain, he expresses his desire to exchange the domain for financial support for his education.
The developer explains that the idea struck him after noticing Disney+ Hotstar’s declining user base, particularly after losing the IPL streaming rights. Predicting that Reliance might acquire Hotstar, he likened the potential rebranding to the JioSaavn acquisition, which saw a similar domain change.
Aiming for Cambridge: A Dreamer’s Story
The app developer, who refers to himself as “a dreamer” in the letter, shares his motivation behind the purchase. Having participated in Cambridge University’s Accelerate program in 2021, he was inspired by the experience and has since aspired to pursue a full degree at the prestigious institution. However, the high costs of Cambridge have made this goal challenging.
He saw the JioHotstar domain as a potential opportunity to turn his dream into reality. “For a multi-billion-dollar company like Reliance, this will be a minor expense, but for me, the sale of this domain would be truly life-changing,” he writes in his appeal to Reliance.
The Merger: India’s Media Powerhouse
Set to conclude by November 2024, the merger between Reliance JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar is expected to create India’s largest media conglomerate, with a valuation of $8.5 billion. The deal has cleared regulatory approvals, including from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
For the app developer, the timely prediction and domain purchase might just be the windfall he needs to fund his Cambridge dreams.
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