iWorld
Reliance Big TV makes pay channels free for a year
MUMBAI: In what is likely to boost its rural subscriber base, Reliance Big TV is making its pay channels free for a year while also providing up to 500 free-to-air channels for five years without charge. The pay channels include the direct-to-home (DTH) operator’s range of high-definition (HD) entertainment channels.
Moreover, the operator aims to pioneer a digital revolution in entertainment with a HD HEVC set-top box (STB) practically free of cost. “We are extending our pan-India network to support our customers, enriched content for all at superior digital quality and affordable services with the latest cutting-edge HD HEVC device,” Reliance Big TV director Vijender Singh said in a release issued by the company.
Its HD HEVC STB will come with features such as schedule recording, USB port, Youtube, recording and viewing channels simultaneously.
Singh added, “Today, Reliance Big TV is going to mark the beginning of a new dawn in the way Indians have been accessing entertainment on their TV sets. Starting from today, entertainment comes effectively free of cost, with the latest offer by Reliance Big TV. Now every Indian household can enjoy high-quality home entertainment and students can have free-of-cost access to education content with the latest HD HEVC STB.”
Singh said that the idea was to support the Digital India initiative by bringing urban and rural India “on the same platform for entertainment and education with [a] unified consumer offer.”
Interested customers will have to pay a booking amount of Rs 499 on Reliance Big TV website. On the receipt of STB and outdoor unit (ODU), buyers have to pay the balance amount of Rs 1500 and enjoy a plethora of pay channels absolutely free for 1 year including HD Channels and up to 500 FTA channels free of cost for 5 years.
To claim loyalty, subscribers need to recharge monthly amount of Rs. 300 from the second year onwards for all pay channels and on completion of subscription of pay channels continuously for next 2 years with Reliance Big TV subscribers will get back Rs. 1999 as a loyalty (the amounts paid during booking and receipt of the STB) in form of recharge.
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.
