iWorld
Non-metro cities drive 60% of consumption on Discovery+ : Megha Tata
KOLKATA: The leading infotainment network Discovery entered the cluttered streaming space in India last year with the launch of Discovery+. Taking note of the consumer needs, the platform has expanded its portfolio after operating in the market for more than a year, aiming to position itself as a platform that caters to every member of the family, Discovery Inc South Asia managing director Megha Tata said on Wednesday.
“We had an amazing response from our customers, consumers, and partners since launch. It was a pre-crowded market when we launched, with most players fighting the fiction game. We brought about that differentiation in Discovery+ that worked well for us,” Tata said.
However, they soon realised that the platform’s offering was more in the world of infotainment. So, they decided to add more genres to offer a wholesome family viewing experience. The platform has also diversified its content library focusing on fun, facts, and family. A large portion of its content will address those aspects going forward. “We tend to make it more entertaining, interactive and we believe that these two are symbiotic. We are prioritising the kind of content the audience loves watching,” Tata said.
The platform is expanding its library with the acquisition of titles from the A+E Networks’. It is enriching kids’ content portfolio with shows like Mr. Bean, Little Singham, Kids Baking Championship, My Little Pony, Hanuman, Mister Maker. Discovery+ also plans to attract eyeballs of sports buffs by introducing the likes of FIM MotoGP World Championship. These are the three key buckets of enhancing Discovery Plus’ content offering. Apart from acquiring titles, it has also decided not to shift focus from original titles as well.
In the course of realigning the content library, the platform has considered audience feedback through available data addressing the content needs. One of the things the platform observed was that it had certain gaps in content offerings when it comes to kids and family specifically. For instance, it had limited content in store for women but the female viewership jumped immediately after adding Star VS Food.
“One of the surprises was that our content was getting an encouraging response in tier II, tier III markets, because of our language strategy. We got seven languages on the platform, which has brought in engagement from tier-II, tier III cities as well. In fact, nearly 60 per cent of the consumption on our platform is outside of the eight cities and it is increasing quarter by quarter. There is an audience need for content like ours which is being seen in our number as well. Our viewership is a combination of metro cities, tier II, tier III cities,” Tata shared.
Discovery Plus’ audience cuts across age groups, from six to sixty. The platform has rich content created over the years, a library of 3000 hours of content. A lot of this content has not seen the light of the day in India due to the limitation of slots on linear TV. But, Discovery+ has come up with a solution for this.
By adding up new content, the platform hopes to acquire new subscribers more rapidly. On the other hand, it also has an ad-based segment. “Our approach with that line is we are a content creating company and that’s our expertise. We want to bring in our expertise, experience to brands who can create their brand communication through the content we create for them,” she explained.
To reach more viewers, Discovery+ is also striking many partnerships like other platforms and the one with Jio has benefited the platform significantly. Many more b2b2c partnerships will be unfolded in the coming months ranging from smart TV brands, telcos, hardware companies.
In what could be a big boon for the platform in India, if HBO Max content is integrated with the platform in the coming days, the way Disney-21st Century Fox merger panned out for Hotstar. Nonetheless, it is still not clear how the merger will pan out for the platform in India.
“It’s a great partnership. We are excited. It’s a great opportunity to bring these two media companies together and create huge possibilities. Now the business is usual for us and we will continue to focus on our priorities. The merger will bring the two companies that have shared value, complementary assets, iconic brands, franchises. This will be a great marriage which is in the works. And we are looking forward to how this unfolds in the coming months,” Tata signed off.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
