iWorld
Even amidst a pandemic Netflix’s content slate is full
KOLKATA: Wall Street was busy yesterday discussing one of its most favourite stocks in recent years. While Netflix executives spoke about cashflow, subscribers and competition, what interests the audience more is the upcoming content slate. Although production has halted in major parts of Netflix markets, fans don’t need to worry since the streaming service is not going out of new content for 2020 at least.
What’s new in store?
Other than returning seasons, Netflix is launching a few brand new shows. On 17 July itself, a day after streaming giant announced its q2 results, Cursed premiered. The brand-new series stars Katherine Langford from 13 Reasons Why and reimagines the King Arthur legend. It is also coming up with Project Power, an action movie starring Jamie Foxx.
The platform has a sequel to one of its biggest movies, Kissing Booth 2, the one which led to re-birth of rom-com on the back of Netflix. One of its most global and most successful series, Umbrella Academy’s new season will be dropping in Q3.
Film acquisitions like The Trial of the Chicago 7 from Aaron Sorkin and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run will also amuse viewers later. Moreover, it has also acquired nearly completed seasons of unreleased original series like Cobra Kai (seasons 1, 2 and a brand new season 3) and Emily in Paris starring Lily Collins.
What the world watched?
Never Have I Ever, a fun, young adult dramedy from Mindy Kaling, broke through with 40 million households in its first four weeks. New comedy Space Force also reached the same number of households.
In original films, 27 million households chose to watch Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, which was celebrated as a “soul stirring film for the ages.” Extraction (starring Chris Hemsworth) and The Wrong Missy, a comedy starring David Spade and Lauren Lapkus, were also big hits with audiences as 99 million and 59 million households, respectively, chose to watch in their first 28 days.
Along with scripted shows, Netflix members have loved non-scripted shows which can be added to the watch list. On the heels of Love is Blind, Too Hot to Handle and Floor is Lava are among the latest buzzy unscripted shows.
Wave of protests broke out globally against discrimination following the killing of George Floyd in the US. While a number of people are raising their voices to eradicate white supremacy, they are also turning to anti-racist collection. Some older titles like 13th, American Son and Dear White People – part of its Black Lives Matter Collection saw increased viewing.
Last but the one of most famous shows were La Casa de Papel (aka Money Heist): Part 4, launched on 3 April, was watched in 65 million households through its first 28 days. If a Netflix member has not watched it, it should go straight to his or her watchlist now.
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.
