iWorld
Airtel Xstream Play partners with aha Telugu and Tamil
Mumbai: Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier communications solutions provider, today, announced that Airtel Xstream Play, India’s fastest-growing OTT aggregator service with over five million paid subscribers, will now offer aha Tamil and Telugu to its subscribers.
aha OTT, a joint venture between Allu Arvind’s Geeta Arts and My Home Group was launched in 2020 and is one of the fastest-growing regional OTT platforms in the country. aha provides a diverse array of original content, encompassing 750 plus films and 40 plus original shows besides talk shows and reality TV.
Commenting on the collaboration, Airtel Digital CEO Adarsh Nair said, “We welcome team aha on to our platform and look forward to collaborating with them and taking their content across the length and breadth of India. Over the years, we have observed regional content gain prominence and transcend the barriers of language within India. aha’s addition will not just get the best in Tamil and Telugu content to the audiences in TN, AP and Telangana but also to discerning audiences elsewhere in the country. At Airtel Xstream Play, as the largest OTT aggregator in the country, we remain committed to being a trusted partner for OTT players and helping them solve for discovery, pricing and other challenges.”
Speaking about the partnership, aha Sr VP and head-SVOD and business strategy Rakesh CK said, “We are pleased to unveil this strategic collaboration with Airtel Xstream, marking a significant stride in our ongoing mission to be in every Telugu and Tamil household. We hope that the partnership with Airtel Xstream will enhance our reach and impact, helping us tap into a broader audience. Together, we are committed to redefining the entertainment experience, ensuring that our exclusive content resonates profoundly with viewers.”
Airtel Xstream Play offers India’s largest bouquet of OTT content aggregated on a single app. Airtel subscribers can have access to premium content from partners such as Sony LIV, Lionsgate Play, Chaupal, Hoichoi, FanCode, ManoramaMax, ShemarooMe, Alt Balaji, Ultra, ErosNow, EPICon, Docubay, Playflix, etc. and can watch 40,000+ movie titles and shows from 20 content partners on the Airtel Xstream app with a minimum recharge of Rs. 148.
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.
