iWorld
News9 Plus creates iconic experiences at travel, wellness, weddings and MICE forum
Mumbai: As India reinforces its position as a bright spot in a world battling multiple crises, consumers too have found a new swagger. Their focus is evolving from conspicuous consumption towards a quest for more profound and experiential expressions of luxury.
With luxury segment poised for glittering growth, News9 Plus, the news OTT from the house of TV9 Network, joined hands with Jyoti Mayal, president, TAAI and Chander Mansharamani, MD of Alpcord Network Travel & Conferences Management Company, to create a platform where connoisseurs of luxury will converge.
Visionary leaders representing travel, tourism, luxury, wellness, weddings, and conferences came together for an unparalleled and unforgettable experience at The iconic experiences Show on 16-17 October 2023, at Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.
The event featured a series of Masterclasses, fireside chats, keynote presentations, and panel discussions, led by some of the most sought-after icons in their respective industries. “Sky’s the limit,” chimed veteran aviation leaders – Aditya Ghosh, co-founder of Akasa Air, and Kapil Kaul, CEO & director, CAPA Advisory. Mr. Nakul Anand, executive director, ITC Ltd, shared masterstrokes on sustainable luxury in an engaging Masterclass.
Rupinder Brar, IT commissioner, Govt. of India; Dr. Jyotsna Suri, chairperson & managing director, Bharat Hotels Ltd; Varija Bajaj, fashion designer and Shobha Rudra from Rare India talked about women powering sustainability goals.
Yoga & spiritual guru and diplomat Sadhvi Pragya, spiritual leader Sadhvi Praygya Bharti and Brajendra Nandan Das from ISKCON India ‘wowed’ the audience with their insights on ‘wellness’. Samit Garg, MD & co-founder, E-Factor Experiences Ltd.; Chetan Vohra, MD, line communications & wedding line; Vandana Mohan, founder, The Wedding Design Company; Dr. Sanjana Jon, social activist and fashion designer; and Asmita Chakraborty, Miss Tourism India 2021 were “Not so Knotty” in a panel discussion on weddings sector in India.
The Luxperiencial event culminated on the 17 October with exclusive B2B meetings, power breakfast sessions with buyers, and networking opportunities during a captivating sundowner affair.
On what prompted her to curate a platform to cater to the luxury segment, Mrs Mayal said: “After the pandemic, people wanted to explore travel beyond mundane itineraries. In revenge travel mode, they were seeking experiences. For this, travel agents have to think out-of-the-box ideas. However, this is easier said than done. That’s why we have come up with TIES, a platform which will provide travel agents an opportunity to interact with states, countries, attractions, DMCs directly and learn how they can add a luxurious element to their package.”
Stating that India is ready to witness a transformative influence in travel, tourism, wellness, weddings and MICE sectors, TV9 Network chief growth officer Raktim Das,said: “A pivotal shift is already happening, and in the years ahead, India will be one of the world’s foremost luxury markets.”
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, he added: “As World’s first news OTT, News9 Plus caters to a very niche segment of audience – people who want perspectives in the daily din of news, the upwardly mobile, knowledge worker, the experience seeking globe trotter. Tapping the same audience, we co-created this initiative and the content that was curated during is being amplified to a larger audience on News9 MediaVerse.”
Some of the countries that participated in the exhibition are Sri Lanka, Saudi, Korea, Germany. In addition, there are multiple States and DMCs that have also confirmed participation.
“I refuse to believe that the era of travel agents is over. It is the agents who need to up their game and TIES is a step in the direction to have them do so. This is exactly why we have not made it a closed-door event limited to only pre-booked meetings. In terms of buyers, we have invited golfers, wedding planners, HNIs, women influencers etc. and organised power breakfasts, Hi-Tea and created more such opportunities for the buyers and exhibitors to engage in quality interactions,” said Mrs. Mayal.
Other eminent speakers at the event included Mukesh Kumar Meshram, principal secretary, tourism and culture department, UP Government; M D Sinha, principal secretary, Haryana tourism department; Gayatri Rathore, principal secretary, tourism; Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, principal secretary, tourism and cultural affairs, Govt. Of Punjab; Zubin Saxena, MD and senior area VP, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group; Meshaal M. Qureshi, trade markets director, Saudi Tourism Authority, and Mr. Hadigalage Chalaka Dev Gajabahu, chairman Sri Lanka tourism promotion bureau; Noel Swain, COO Evisa VAS & tourism services, VFS; Parveen Chander Kumar, EVP sales and marketing, Indian Hotels Company Ltd; Tarun Thakral, founder & managing trustee – Heritage Transport Museum; Ashish Gupta, founder: Strategy PLUTO & Consulting.
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.
