iWorld
Amazon Prime Video to livestream WNBA games in India
Mumbai: Enhancing its portfolio of live sports streaming, Amazon Prime Video and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) on Thursday announced that Prime members in India can live-stream WNBA games during the league’s historic 25th season with the next opportunity to watch in India on 21 August. The move follows a multi-year agreement between Amazon and the WNBA in May this year, giving Prime Video exclusive streaming rights in India to select league games each season of the agreement.
The WNBA games will mark the first live sports streaming experience for Prime Video viewers in India.
“We are happy to bring the WNBA games to our viewers,” said Amazon Prime Video, India spokesperson, Chaitanya Divan. “We are confident that the world-class, friction-free live experience of the WNBA games on Amazon Prime Video will delight the growing base of basketball fans in India.”
Prime members in India will have exclusive access to six games from the second half of the 2021 WNBA season, said the streaming platform in a statement.
The season, which tipped off 5 May, is available with Prime Video streaming its next WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm on 21 August followed by five other games. For the viewers who have missed out on the previous games, an entire replay will be available on the app in English, it added.
Currently, in its 25th season, the WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the WNBA is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and social responsibility.
“We are pleased to offer WNBA games to our fans in India through Amazon Prime Video,” said NBA India, head of global content and media distribution, Sunny Malik. “The collaboration will provide easy access to the games, expand our visibility and reach in the region and educate fans further about one of the most popular sports leagues in the world.”
Schedule of six games airing on Prime Video during the second half of the 2021 WNBA season:
1. 21 August – New York : Seattle – 4:30 a.m
2. 27 August – Washington : Dallas – 4:30 a.m
3. 1 September – Minnesota : New York – 5:30 a.m
4. 3 Sepetmeber – Seattle : New York – 7:30 a.m
5. 8 September – Dallas : Connecticut – 5:30 a.m
6. 17 September – Atlanta : Los Angeles – 4:30 a.m
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.
