iWorld
Indian audio streaming market sees new entrant as Velvet brings in Pankaj Tripathi
MUMBAI; The Indian audio streaming sector continues to expand with Velvet, a new platform specialising in cinematic audio stories, announcing actor Pankaj Tripathi has joined as co-founder. Tripathi recently released a bunch of his stories written and narrated by him on Velvet.
The bootstrapped venture, which launched quietly in late 2024, was founded by actor and dialogue coach Vikas Kumar, alongside Akshat Saxena, Varad Bhatnagar and Sharib Khan. It joins a growing market that includes successful platforms such as Pocket FM, Pratilipi FM and Kuku FM.
“From folk tales to epics, our stories have always had the power to inspire, educate, and entertain,” said Mr Tripathi. “We aim to elevate this tradition into a cinematic experience for the ears, whilst remaining deeply rooted in our cultural ethos.”
The platform, which focuses on preserving and promoting traditional storytelling, has attracted over 10,000 direct listeners and reaches more than one million users through partnerships with Josh App in India and Future Today Group in the US.
The announcement follows the recent launch of Eshtory by former radio executive Harrish Bhatia, indicating growing interest in India’s audio streaming market.
iWorld
Micro-Dramas Surge in India, Redefining Mobile Content Habits
Meta-Ormax study maps rapid rise of short-form storytelling among 18–44 audiences.
MUMBAI: Micro-dramas aren’t just short, they’re the snack that ate Indian entertainment, and now everyone’s bingeing between the sofa cushions. Meta, in partnership with Ormax Media, has released ‘Micro Dramas: The India Story’, a comprehensive study unveiled at the inaugural Meta Marketing Summit: Micro-Drama Edition. The report maps how the vertical, bite-sized format is reshaping content consumption for mobile-first audiences aged 18–44 across 14 states.
Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 through 50 in-depth interviews and 2,000 personal surveys, the research reveals that 65 per cent of viewers discovered micro-dramas within the last year proof of explosive adoption. Nearly 89 per cent encounter the format through social feeds and recommendations, making algorithm-driven discovery the primary engine rather than active search.
Key viewing patterns show a median of 3.5 hours per week (about 30 minutes daily) spread across 7–8 short sessions. Consumption peaks between 8 pm and midnight, with additional spikes during commutes and work breaks classic “in-between moments” that the format fills perfectly. Around 57 per cent of viewing happens in ambient mode (while doing something else), and 90 per cent is solo, enabling more intimate, personal storytelling.
Romance, family drama and comedy lead genre preferences. Audiences show growing openness to AI-generated content, 47 per cent find it unique and creative, while only 6 per cent say they would avoid it entirely. Regional languages are surging after Hindi and English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dominate consumption.
Meta, director, media & entertainment (India) Shweta Bajpai said, “Micro-drama isn’t a passing trend, it’s rewriting the rules of Indian entertainment. In under a year, an entirely new category of platforms has emerged, built audience habits from scratch, and created a business vertical that is scaling fast.”
Ormax Media founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor added, “Micro-dramas are beginning to show the early signs of becoming a distinct content category in India’s digital entertainment landscape. When a format aligns closely with how audiences naturally engage with their devices, it has the potential to scale very quickly.”
The study proposes ecosystem-wide responsibility, universal signposting of commercial intent, shared accountability among advertisers, platforms, creators, schools and parents, built-in safeguards, and formal media literacy in schools.
In a feed that never sleeps and a day that never stops, micro-dramas have slipped into the cracks of every spare minute turning 30-second stories into the new national pastime, one vertical swipe at a time.
