iWorld
Vdopia announces three senior-level appointments
MUMBAI: Vdopia has announced the appointment of several top talents to further strengthen its leadership ranks: Jason Shulman, Farzad Jamal and Narayanan Iyer.
Farzad Jamal has come on-board as vice president, Europe. Jamal will be based in the company’s London office and will be responsible for expanding Vdopia’s business across Europe. Previously, he was at the OpenX (London) where he has been commercial director of EMEA for the past two years.
Jason Shulman has joined as senior vice president, sales at the company’s San Francisco office. Shulman will be responsible for growing North America media and programmatic revenue for the company. “There are very few companies with global scale in the mobile video advertising space and Vdopia is on that short list. There was no saying ‘no’ to such an opportunity, especially when Vdopia is rolling out programmatic offering,” said Shulman.
Senior director of finance, a newly created position, will be occupied by Narayanan Iyer. He will be based in Fremont and is responsible for company’s finances. A veteran with 20 years of experience, he’s worked with Rocket Fuel, Mint and Intuit. Prior to Vdopia, he was working with Quri (San Francisco), a retail intelligence company.
“Vdopia is moving ahead at a great pace and building a world-class team, which has expanded dramatically over the last year to match pace with our growth.” said Vdopia APAC VP Preetesh Chouhan.
“Jason is an amazing strategist of the digital century—helping brands take best advantage of the growing programmatic landscape. Farzad is a creatively driven revenue executive and been able to produce big digital ideas in Europe. And Narayanan is hardcore numbers guru,” added Vdopia co-founder & chief business officer Saurabh Bhatia. “Together they will help Vdopia build on the momentum we’ve been gaining. We are thrilled to welcome them to the team.”
iWorld
Paramount revamps app with short videos to boost mobile viewer engagement
Streaming giant borrows from TikTok playbook to drive daily usage on phones
LOS ANGELES: Paramount Skydance is giving its streaming strategy a mobile-first twist, rolling out a redesigned version of its Paramount+ app that leans heavily on short-form video to capture viewer attention, according to a Reuters report.
The updated app, currently available to iPhone users via Apple, features scrollable clips such as sports highlights, news snippets, UFC moments and trailers. The idea is simple but effective: get users to open the app multiple times a day, much like they do with TikTok or Instagram.
By encouraging repeat visits, Paramount is betting it can deepen engagement and unlock new features such as real-time statistics during live events and interactive viewing elements. The approach reflects a broader industry shift, where streaming platforms are borrowing cues from social media to stay relevant in an increasingly crowded market.
The stakes are high. In the first quarter of 2026, Paramount accounted for just 2 percent of global app-based streaming, trailing rivals such as Netflix, HBO Max and Peacock, according to data cited by Reuters. Even a potential combination with Warner Bros Discovery would only place it fourth in the streaming rankings.
Meanwhile, YouTube, owned by Google, continues to dominate the mobile video space, boasting user numbers far ahead of Paramount+. This gap has pushed traditional studios to rethink how audiences discover and consume content.
Industry insiders suggest Paramount could go further by experimenting with micro dramas or tapping digital creators to draw in younger viewers. Rivals are already moving in that direction. Netflix is investing in video podcasts featuring names like Pete Davidson, Michael Irvin and Brian Williams, while Amazon has teamed up with Jimmy Donaldson for a reality series.
There are also hints of potential collaboration with TikTok, given shared links to Larry Ellison of Oracle, though both companies have said no formal agreement exists.
The revamp is part of a wider overhaul of Paramount’s streaming operations, including both Paramount+ and Pluto TV, as the company looks to sharpen its competitive edge.
In a market where attention spans are shrinking, Paramount’s latest move signals a clear pivot. If viewers will not come to long-form content, the strategy suggests, then perhaps the content must first meet them in short bursts.
