iWorld
2016: Hotstar is Apple TV’s & Voot Google Play’s top app
MUMBAI: Hotstar has appropriated the top spot on amazing iTunes as Apple TV’s app of the year for India 2016. The app was launched on Apple TV in August and the recognition comes on the back of a breakthrough year in which Hotstar continued to lead and disrupt the Indian market place. Indiantelevision.com also reported about a similar recognition in the digital space yesterday. In its year of launch, Viacom18’s video-on demand platform, Voot made it to the prestigious -Best Apps of the year 2016 India list on Google Play.
2016 saw Hotstar introduce a host of new tech features and content proposition for its ever-increasing number of consumers, which currently stands at a whopping 130 million downloads.
“India is the only country in the world where a streaming platform like Hotstar exists where the best TV shows from around the world, movie premieres and live sports are available on a single platform. The Indian consumer today is absolutely at the frontiers of mobile video: no consumer in any other part of the world has access to better options than the Indian consumer. Now, we are setting our sights on shaping the connected TV experience in India,” said Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan.
While innovation on live sports streaming continued to draw fans with the deeply engaging coverage of the Vivo IPL 2016, Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Premier League football and Kabaddi World Cup on Virtual Reality, the entertainment offerings were significantly beefed up when Hotstar launched its premium service in April making the best of international shows available in India alongside their US airing.
The lineup on the premium service includes Emmy award-winning TV shows such as Game of Thrones, The Night Of, Westworld, Veep, and American Crime Story that are all exclusively available in India on Hotstar.
Also Read:
Viacom18’s Voot ranked among 2016’s best apps on Google Play
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.
