iWorld
Pocket FM elevates Anurag Sharma to chief financial officer
Mumbai: Pocket FM has announced the appointment of Anurag Sharma as the chief financial officer (CFO). He was previously Vice President – Finance at Pocket FM and has been a key driving force behind the company’s financial health, fundraising, operational efficiency and driving strategic partnerships.
In his new role, he will assume overall responsibility for Pocket FM’s financial operations, playing a crucial role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and driving its execution. He will work closely with the executive team to identify growth opportunities, optimise resource allocation, drive strategic partnerships and enhance profitability, supporting Pocket FM’s global expansions.
Speaking about Sharma’s elevation, Pocket FM co-founder & CEO Rohan Natak said, “Anurag has played a pivotal role in propelling our growth journey and driving our successful global expansion. Through his strategic acumen, we have forged key partnerships that have significantly expanded our content diversity and business efficiencies. He has exhibited exceptional financial leadership, led our successful fundraising efforts and ensured a strong trajectory for the company’s profitable and sustainable growth. We are confident that his strategic vision will continue to propel Pocket FM’s growth trajectory.”
“This further reflects our commitment to fostering internal talent, providing opportunities for growth and development within the organization,” added Nayak.
While expressing his excitement about his new role, Sharma said, “We have made remarkable progress over the past couple of years and driven exponential growth. As we are on our path to profitability, we will continue to forge new paths and harness the power of audio entertainment to captivate audiences around the globe. With this new role, I will continue to build a robust financial foundation, drive growth, and create immense value for our stakeholders. I am bullish about Pocket FM’s potential in the global landscape and will continue to contribute to strengthening our mission to revolutionize audio entertainment.”
Sharma has held senior leadership positions in multinational corporations, start-ups and Big4s. Prior to joining Pocket FM, he was heading finance at Ninjacart. He is both Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, apart from being a commerce graduate.
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.
