iWorld
NXTCONCLAVE 2022 brings independent pan-India DPOs together
Mumbai: NXTCONCLAVE 2022 was organised by NXTDIGITAL, the digital media division of Hinduja Global Solutions, which is a Hinduja Group company, and brought together notable business leaders to exchange ideas and knowledge. The event was attended by leading and independent digital platform operators (DPOs) from all over India.
The event began with a welcome address by Hinduja Global Solutions’ whole-time director and NXTDIGITAL CEO Vynsley Fernandes, who discussed the goals of NXTCONCLAVE 2022. The event’s theme was “Digital Transformation Through the 3Cs: Connect, Converge, and Collaborate.” On the sidelines of the conclave, Vynsley pointed out, “The media industry is founded on innovation and evolution. We at NXTDIGITAL have been spearheading that change by launching new products and solutions based on new tech. The fortunes of the entire industry are tied to each other, so we thought it imperative to set up this conclave to discuss the changing paradigm. We’re delighted that DPOs from across India chose to join us today; to figure out ways to grow and collaborate together as an industry.”
The event’s opening session was titled “State of the Indian M&E Industry: Talking Data.” KPMG associate partner Vibhor Gauba and associate vice president Poulomi Chakraborty delivered the presentation. They displayed a recent KPMG report that characterised the Indian television market as still being a goliath with plenty of space for expansion, particularly in rural India.
In the second discussion, which was titled “Emerging Technology Trends – Bhai, Kya Hai Yeh Metaverse?” Accenture’s global IT Enterprise Metaverse Lead Ashwin D’Silva, JetSynthesys’ chief strategy officer Girish Menon and NXTDIGITAL’s chief technology officer Ru Ediriwira discussed the future-shaping emerging technologies that could help industry players understand the possibilities of a metaverse and plan business strategies.
In the third session, NXTDIGITAL COO N K Rouse and NXTDIGITAL’s content & solutions advisor, Mukund Sharma, discussed “The new digital savvy consumer: What does she want?” with management college students Shiwank, Vernika, and Rehaan. Students were polled about their daily content consumption and the mediums on which they prefer to watch specific content. It ended with the unveiling of the beta OTT aggregator app from NXTDIGITAL, called NXTPLAY.
The fourth discussion focused on the topic “Increasing digital adoption—time for true convergence,” with speakers—Aabo founder, serial entrepreneur, mentor, and guide Atul Himani; industry expert Gaurav Babbar; and OneOTT Intertainment Ltd. (OIL) COO Sanjeev Agarwal—discussing how digital adoption is pushing the industry toward convergence. The main focus of the session was on how important digital adoption is and how stakeholders will benefit the business if they understand it as soon as possible.
OIL’s chief business officer Sameer Kanse briefed the audience on broadband over satellite and NXTSkyFi. He went on to moderate the session titled “The Enterprise Business: Leveraging Capabilities and Infrastructure for Growth,” which featured YES Bank’s chief information officer Mahesh Ramamoorthy and IndusInd Bank’s senior vice president and infrastructure head Mustafa Shaikh, who discussed the enterprise-class requirements of the sector and what is expected from DPOs to meet the same.
NXTDIGITAL’s learning and development head Alka Tiwari, along with Sharon George (NIIT) and Subeer Sarkar (a cable partner from Allahabad), gave a presentation on the topic “Upgrading Digital Skill Sets: Now a Necessity,” in which she explained how NXTDIGITAL provides training for industry stakeholders to upskill themselves with new digital technologies through a national training programme called NXT Sangram.
The day-long event concluded with the final session, titled “Value Creation: Collaboration is the Key,” in which NXTDIGITAL CEO Vynsley Fernandes, Indiantelevision.com group founder, CEO & editor-in-chief Anil NM Wanvari, EY partner (M&E) Ashish Pherwani, and Elara Capital senior vice president Karan Taurani discussed how value creation is the key and how cost optimisation could be a driver. They agreed on how connecting, convergent thinking, and collaborating will help all industry players in the long run.
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.
