iWorld
Affle launches AI-driven ad tech solutions for SMEs, targeting connected TV growth
MUMBAI: Affle India, celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Bombay Stock Exchange, has announced the launch of new AI-powered advertising technology solutions aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Founders Anuj Khanna Sohum and Anuj Kumar presented the company’s long-term strategy, focusing on innovation, impact, and intelligence, during the event.
Key platforms introduced include OpticksAI for hyper-local creative generation and CTV AI, designed to facilitate ad campaigns for SMEs on connected television (CTV). The company also showcased 100 AI agents developed to enhance team productivity.
“We are targeting a tenfold growth over the next decade, with a planned increase in manpower from 600 to 1,000,” stated Sohum.
The CTV AI platform aims to provide SMEs with affordable access to television advertising within geographically defined areas.
“Shopkeepers and SME business owners can utilise these platforms to advertise on connected TVs,” explained Kumar. “Both platforms feature user-friendly interfaces.”
Sohum elaborated, “Many small business owners desire television advertising at an accessible cost. Our CTV AI service enables them to achieve this at a significantly lower expense compared to traditional satellite and national television in a performance advertising format for bite sized ad campaigns.”
Kumar highlighted the potential market growth, noting, “Currently, there are approximately 12,000 television advertisers out of a total of 250,000 advertisers across various mediums, indicating substantial growth potential.”
Affle intends to deliver approximately a billion hyper local and hyper contextual creatives annually through OpticksAI and onboard one million SMEs globally. “We are focusing on the vernacular vertical, addressing language and localisation needs for ad creation and delivery,” emphasised Sohum.
The company is exploring various strategies to reach and onboard smaller advertisers, including the potential use of agents spread all over the country.
iWorld
Amazon MX Player unveils 150-show slate for 2026
Free streamer doubles down on originals, reality and microdramas as it courts 250m monthly viewers
MUMBAI: Amazon MX Player is going big in 2026. India’s free streaming service, which claims more than 250m monthly viewers, has unveiled its largest content slate yet—over 150 new and returning titles spanning drama, action, thrillers, reality and its mobile-first microdrama format.
Leading the scripted lineup is Made In India: The Titan Story, a sweeping ambition-and-legacy drama starring Naseeruddin Shah and Jim Sarbh. Also headlining the slate is Sankalp, a socio-political thriller exploring power and leadership, featuring Nana Patekar, Sanjay Kapoor, Neeraj Kabi and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.
The platform is stacking the deck with a mix of genres. Ab Hoga Hisaab, a justice-and-retribution thriller, stars Shaheer Sheikh, Mouni Roy and Sanjay Kapoor. Administrative drama The Bureaucrat features Amol Parashar, while action entertainer Kaptaan stars Saqib Saleem. The survival thriller Vimal Khanna features Sunny Hindhuja, cop drama Waiting Hai stars Divyenndu Sharma and Bhuvan Arora, and crime drama Clean Up Crew brings together Ravi Kishan, Amey Wagh and Vishal Jethwa.
The slate builds on the momentum of recent originals including courtroom drama Amar Vishwas, starring Rajeev Khandelwal, Aamir Ali, Ravi Behl and Barkha Bisht, and the romantic thriller Psycho Saiyaan featuring Tejasswi Prakash and Ravi Kishan, both of which drew strong audience engagement.
Reality programming remains a key pillar. Competition series Rise & Fall returns for a second season, while the fitness reality show Battleground also comes back for Season 2 with Shikhar Dhawan reprising his role as lead mentor. The platform recently wrapped Bharat Ke Super Founders, fronted by Suniel Shetty, which saw winning startups receive funding worth Rs100 crore ($10.8m).
Franchise favourites are also making a comeback. Crime saga Raktanchal returns for Season 3, alongside youth-focused titles Campus Beats Season 6, Campus Diaries Season 2, Heartbeats Season 2 and Who’s Your Gynac Season 2.
Karan Bedi, head of Amazon MX Player, said the platform is riding strong momentum as viewers gravitate towards free, premium streaming. “With our growing premium content slate and scale, we are uniquely positioned to drive the shift from linear television to streaming for millions of viewers across India.”
Amogh Dusad, head of content, said the focus is on building “a diverse and inclusive content ecosystem that reflects the many voices, cultures and experiences of audiences across the country.”
Beyond long-form shows, the platform is doubling down on MX Fatafat, its mobile-first microdrama vertical designed for short, snackable storytelling. It is also expanding MX Vdesi, its library of localised international content from Korea, China and Turkey, alongside a curated anime slate available in Japanese and Hindi.
Girish Prabhu, head of Amazon Ads India, framed the strategy in commercial terms. With a reach of 250m users, he said, brands can connect with audiences through content “powered by shopping and streaming signals” that generate measurable outcomes.
All titles will stream free on Amazon MX Player across mobile devices, connected TVs, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, Jio TV and Airtel Xtreme.
The message is clear: as India’s streaming wars intensify, Amazon MX Player is betting big on scale, speed and free access—flooding the zone with content and inviting millions of viewers to press play.
