iWorld
Kuku TV transforms India’s OTT space with vertical microdrama boom
MUMBAI: India’s digital entertainment landscape just got a bold new entrant—Kuku TV. The country’s first vertical OTT platform has officially launched, redefining storytelling with serialised microdramas tailored for today’s mobile-first audience. Designed to be fast, engaging, and binge-worthy, Kuku TV is here to disrupt the streaming game with high-intensity, cliffhanger-driven episodes.
With over five million downloads during its beta phase, Kuku TV is scaling rapidly, proving that Indian audiences are ready for a new era of content consumption. The platform delivers short episodic stories in a vertical format, optimised for smartphones—each episode lasting under two minutes, with series spanning over 50+ episodes.
If you thought long-form drama was the only way to hook audiences, Kuku TV is here to prove otherwise.
According to an Ericsson study, 57 per cent of global video plays come from mobile devices, with 94 per cent of users holding their phones vertically. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of Indian users consume short-form vertical videos daily, yet the OTT space had no dedicated premium platform to cater to this demand—until now.
Kuku co-founder & COO Vinod Kumar Meena shared, “Traditional OTTs are stuck in an era where TV-sized screens were the norm. India’s audience has moved on—they’re watching content on their smartphones, in vertical mode, and in short bursts. With Kuku TV, we’re not just launching a streaming platform; we’re pioneering an entirely new way of storytelling. Given our experience with Kuku FM, where we scaled to 4.5 million paying subscribers, we understand what works for personalised content consumption, and we’re applying those learnings to video streaming.”
Nearly 95 per cent of India’s creative talent remains undiscovered due to outdated distribution models. Kuku TV is bridging this gap by offering a direct-to-consumer channel for independent filmmakers, writers, and production houses to monetise their work and connect with millions of viewers. The platform is already collaborating with directors and producers to develop original microdramas and acquire rights to underrepresented films.
Unlike traditional OTT platforms that rely on ad-based models, Kuku TV operates on a pure subscription model:
. Annual subscription: Rs 899
. Quarterly subscription: Rs 399
India already has 500 million plus OTT users and 100 million plus active paid subscriptions (Ormax Report). With over 900 million internet users in the country and 150 million already paying for content, the next digital shift is inevitable. As India surpasses the one billion internet user mark, the number of paid content subscribers is expected to reach 500 million, with 300 million potential users for vertical microdramas.
Say hello to the future of vertical entertainment. By merging short-form content with compelling storytelling, it creates an immersive, binge-worthy experience designed for the new-age mobile viewer. With fresh content dropping every day, including one regional Indian microdrama daily, Kuku TV ensures a dynamic library spanning genres like Action, Bollywood, Sci-Fi, and Mythology.
For filmmakers, investors, and creators looking to be part of this storytelling revolution, Kuku TV is now accepting applications for collaborations.
Download Now:
. Android: Google Play Store
. iOS: Apple App Store
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
