iWorld
Facebook accounts for three-quarters of global social network ad spend
MUMBAI: Boosted by solid growth in usage and advertising spend across major social networks, the global social network market continued to show strong growth in 2014, as per Strategy Analytics Global Social Network Forecast. Globally, social networks surpassed two billion users for the first time in 2014, of which Facebook accounted for 68 per cent.
Ad spend on social networks grew a robust 41 per cent globally in 2014 totaling over $15.3 billion, accounting for 11 per cent of global digital ad spend. Facebook accounted for three-quarters of global social network ad spend in 2014, while Twitter accounted for eight per cent. In 2015, ad spend on social networks is expected to grow by 29 per cent, totaling $24.2 billion.
“Overall, the social network market continues to show strong growth across all regions as the major social network platforms drive usage and engagement via improved integration of digital media content. While Facebook currently dominates the global social network market, its absence in China allows local social networks such as QZone and Tencent Weibo to gain traction in the rapidly expanding Chinese digital advertising market,” said Leika Kawasaki, author of the report.
Other key findings from the report include:
1) Nearly half (46 per cent) of social network users reside in the Asia Pacific region.
2) China accounts for almost 25 per cent of global social network users with 495 million users in 2014.
3) North America had the highest ratio of social network users to its population (64 per cent) in 2014, followed by Western Europe at 55 per cent.
4) The US accounts for the largest share of global social network ad spend (41 per cent), totaling $6.2 billion in 2014, up 35 per cent YoY.
5) The UK is the second largest market for social network ad spends, accounting for 8.2 per cent of global social network ad spends in 2014, just edging out China (8 per cent).
6) The US had the highest social network ad spend per social network user at $31.37 in 2014. This is expected to grow 27 per cent to $39.84 in 2015.
iWorld
Tata Play Binge adds Pocket Films to micro drama platform Shots
Over 210 micro dramas and 220 hours of content strengthen short form play
MUMBAI: Short stories are getting shorter and sharper. Tata Play Binge is doubling down on snackable storytelling, adding Pocket Films to its micro-drama hub Shots as it looks to capture India’s fast-growing appetite for quick-consumption content. The move expands Shots into a deeper, more diverse catalogue, now featuring over 210 micro-dramas and 220 hours of short-format programming across genres such as action, drama and thriller. The content spans Hindi and key regional languages, reflecting the increasingly local yet mobile-first nature of viewing habits.
Pocket Films brings with it a library of emotionally driven, culturally rooted narratives, including micro-dramas like Chaturanga, Vidushi, Maasa, Silent Cycle and Pilibhit, alongside short films such as Lock-up, Dubki and The Disguise. The addition builds on existing partnerships with Bullet and Stage, strengthening Shots as a one-stop destination for bite-sized storytelling.
Designed for vertical viewing, the platform leans into scroll-friendly interfaces, auto-play sequencing and seamless discovery mirroring the habits of always-on, digital-first audiences. The content remains ad-supported and is available within the Tata Play Binge app at no additional cost.
The integration also sits within a broader aggregation strategy. Tata Play Binge currently offers access to 30 plus OTT services including Prime Video, JioHotstar, Zee5 and Apple TV+ through a single subscription and interface, aiming to simplify fragmented streaming consumption.
As platforms race to keep up with shrinking attention spans, Tata Play Binge’s bet is straightforward: when stories get shorter, the catalogue needs to get bigger and faster.
