iWorld
Q2-16: Twitter revenue up 19.8 percent
BENGALURU: Twitter Inc., (Twitter) reported 19.8 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) growth in total revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q2-16, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter. The social media player reported total revenue of $601.96 million in Q2-16 as compared to $502.38 million in Q2-15. US revenue totalled $360.68 million, an increase of 12.3 percent y-o-y as compared to $321.19 million. International revenue totalled $241.28 million, a y-o-y increase of 33.2 percent from $181.19 million.
Ad revenue in the current quarter increased 18.2 percent y-o-y to $534.52 million as compared to $452.29 million in Q2-15. Mobile advertising revenue was 89 percent of total advertising revenue. US advertising revenue increased 9.4 percent y-o-y to $313 million from $286 million. International advertising revenue increased 33.7 percent y-o-y to $266 million from $166 million. Total ad engagements grew 226 percent y-o-y, driven by the adoption of auto-play video and increased ad load. The average cost per engagement fell 64 per y-o-y, primarily due to the shift to auto-play video says the company.
Twitter’s Data licensing and other revenue totalled $67.43 million, a y-o-y increase of 34.6 percent as compared to $ 50.11 million..
Adjusted EBIDTA in Q2-16 increased 45.3 percent to $174.60 million from $120.19 million in Q2-15. Non-GAAP net income was 91.5 percent higher at $92.93 million as compared to $48.52 million in Q2-15. The current quarter’s GAAP net loss was lower at $107.22 as compared to $136.66 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Average monthly uses (MAU)
Average monthly users (MAU) increased 3 percent y-o-y to 330 million in Q2-16 from 304 million in Q4-16 and increased 1 percent quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) from 310 million. Average US MAUs were 66 million for Q2-16, up 1 percent y-o-y and compared to 65 million in the previous quarter. Average international MAUs were 247 million for Q2-16, up 4 percent y-o-y and compared to 245 million in the previous quarter. Mobile MAUs represented 82 percent of total MAUs
Company Speak
“We’ve made a lot of progress on our priorities this quarter,” said Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. “We are confident in our product roadmap, and we are seeing the direct benefit of our recent product changes in increased engagement and usage. We remain focused on improving our service to make it fast, simple and easy to use, like the ability to watch live-streaming video events unfold and the commentary around them.”
“This quarter we saw year-over-year and sequential growth in both monthly active and daily active usage,” said Twitter CFO Anthony Noto. “We continue to believe that, with disciplined execution against our priorities, we can drive sustained engagement and audience growth over time. We also have exciting momentum with live-streaming video initiatives underway. We’re partnering with the providers of the world’s most popular live content to bring more and more of those events onto Twitter to provide a unique and compelling consumer experience.”
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.
