iWorld
Meta taps Shivam Sharma to sharpen its energy and data centre strategy
CALIFORNIA: Meta has hired Shivam Sharma as strategic lead for energy and data centre strategy, pulling in more than 13 years of experience from PSEG, where he cut his teeth on energy operations, infrastructure reliability and large-scale utility planning. The move signals Meta’s intent to supercharge the efficiency and sustainability of its rapidly expanding global data centre footprint.
Sharma’s background in managing complex, utility-scale systems gives him a firm footing to bolster Meta’s push for high-performance, scalable and sustainable data centre environments that can handle the company’s AI-heavy workloads and rising connectivity demands.
Armed with a solid academic grounding from Rutgers Business School and deep hands-on sector expertise, Sharma blends technical rigour with commercial insight—skills that now slot neatly into Meta’s long-term infrastructure ambitions. His shift from PSEG to the tech giant underscores a career built on navigating energy complexity and delivering resilient solutions at scale.
With Sharma in the cockpit, Meta’s data centre strategy looks set for a sharper, smarter and more future-ready climb.
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.
