iWorld
Companies deploy security for cable network to help set new digitalisation standard
MUMBAI: Verimatrix, the specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-network, multi-screen digital TV services around the globe, today announced that Sunny Digital Home Entertainment, Pvt, Ltd, a joint venture company of Teleecare Networks India Private Limited and a leading cable MSO for the southern region of India, has selected the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) for DVB solution to provide revenue security for its digital cable service expansion in the Telangana state. Sunny Digital chose the proven cardless security solution to enable its analog-to-digital transition and create a foundation for future hybrid network and multi-screen services.
Sunny Digital is a digital cable MSO based in Hyderabad, India providing more than 650 international, national and regional satellite channels. The company’s cable-based solution enables it to reach all parts of Telangana State and provides a wealth of content, commerce and e-services. VCAS for DVB provides Sunny Digital with a cost-effective revenue security solution that offers robust, chip-level security without having to manage the logistics of smartcards.
“Our approach to the transition from analog to digital is revolutionizing the services we can provide to our customers in Telangana,” said Mr. Y.S. Krishna, Director, Sunny Digital Home Entertainment Pvt Ltd. “We chose Verimatrix as our revenue security partner because of their expertise and tremendous success the company has had in deployments globally, and in India. We are confident Verimatrix is the best partner to provide robust revenue security solutions that will help ensure our competitive stance and future growth.”
Sunny Digital is delivering “triple play” technology that provides a multi-screen, multi-service and app-based access to a world of content and services. The cardless VCAS for DVB solution offers a more secure approach than smartcards as it incorporates embedded security features in the set-top box at the chipset level ensuring that the descrambling keys or control words cannot be intercepted in the clear and shared over the Internet. This system also offers renewability of security subsystems with flexible options that enable operators to stay a step ahead of potential pirates. VCAS for DVB has been integrated with set-top boxes from MICO Panodic and LGCNS for the Telangana deployment.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Sunny Digital technology ecosystem that is bringing advanced digital TV to Southern India,” said Steve Oetegenn, president, Verimatrix. “Over the last several years, Verimatrix has been a part of many digitalisation efforts in India, laying a solid foundation for the variety of services that will transform the way entertainment is consumed in the country.”
Verimatrix will illustrate how security solutions are at the core of all key monetization strategies for the pay-TV and Internet video service at IBC 2016 (booth #5.A59). For additional information or to book an appointment with the team please visit www.verimatrix.com/ibc2016.
iWorld
JioHotstar to launch micro dramas during IPL
Streaming giant plans free, ad-supported bite-sized stories during IPL to engage mobile-first audiences
JioHotstar is gearing up to launch a wave of micro dramas, eyeing India’s fast-growing appetite for bite-sized storytelling and new revenue opportunities. According to sources close to the matter, the streaming platform is expected to go live with the content during the Indian Premier League, which runs from 28 March to 31 May.
The move comes as the micro-drama market in India surges, with Redseer Strategy Consultants projecting the overall interactive media segment could reach $3.1–3.4 billion by FY2030, with micro dramas leading the growth. The format has already proven commercially viable abroad — China’s micro-drama sector generated $360 million in 2023, up 267 per cent year-on-year.
Micro dramas are designed for rapid consumption on mobile devices. Episodes typically run 60–90 seconds, shot in vertical 9:16 format, and rely on fast-paced plots and cliffhangers to keep viewers glued. Stories tend to revolve around high-stakes drama, from romance and revenge to corporate intrigue, blending social-media immediacy with professional production values.
Sources said the IPL provides the perfect launchpad, with millions tuning in to the platform for live cricket, creating a ready audience for short-form narrative experiments. The content will initially be free and accessible to all.
JioHotstar, which already boasts over 300 million subscribers, plans to roll out more than 100 micro dramas across multiple genres and languages, including Hindi and South Indian languages. The move is expected to strengthen its regional content strategy and appeal to mobile-first viewers, particularly in metro and Tier-1 cities where the format is currently most popular.
“The timing is perfect,” said a source close to the project, requesting anonymity. “With micro dramas on the rise, this is a chance for JioHotstar to experiment with new formats and engage audiences in a way traditional series cannot.”
The platform is not the first in India to test the format. ALTBalaji, StoryTV and Zee Bullet have all dabbled in short episodic storytelling. But JioHotstar’s scale — and its ability to pair content with one of the country’s biggest sporting events — could make it a defining moment for micro dramas in India.
With mobile consumption and vernacular content on the rise, the gamble seems clear: capture attention fast, keep it longer, and turn bite-sized narratives into a robust revenue engine.
Note: The cover image used is AI-generated.
