iWorld
Hotstar announces partnership with awesomeness
MUMBAI: Further expanding their portfolio of over one hundred thousand hours of content, Hotstar, India’s leading premium streaming platform, announces a partnership with Awesomeness, a media company serving the global Gen Z audience. The association will allow hit series from Awesomeness including Freakish, T@gged and Confess to reside on the platform under the Hotstar Premium library.
The partnership supports Hotstar’s ongoing strategy to bring the best of global content to India. The two companies will work together to create added appeal for younger audiences through Awesomeness’ premium programming.
Freakish, a horror show featuring an ensemble cast, revolves around a group of students trapped inside a high school who must fight for survival when mutant freaks take over after a meltdown at the local chemical plant. Season 1 and 2 of the show are currently available for streaming on Hotstar Premium. T@gged is a modern day thriller that explores the terrifying risks of social media in a world of anonymity. Season 1 and 2 are available for viewers on the platform, with Season 3 due to premiere next year. Based on the novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, Confess is a modern love story about the secrets we keep to protect the ones we love. All episodes of Season 1 are available on the platform.
“We are thrilled to renew our partnership with Hotstar and continue the expansion of our brand in this market,” Awesomeness, Head of Worldwide Distribution, Rebecca Glashow said. “Hotstar’s audience of millions of users provides us with the opportunity to expand our reach and deliver on our promise of bringing the Gen Z audience the best and most creative programming, no matter where they are.”
Through its partnerships with the world’s largest studios, like HBO, Disney and Showtime, Hotstar has been able to bring the most celebrated international shows to India, under the Hotstar Premium banner.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
