eNews
Rohan Nayak’s Pocket FM makes audio series a mainstream hit in 2024
MUMBAI: As 2024 draws to a close, the world of audio storytelling has a clear hero: Pocket FM.
In a year brimming with innovation and riveting narratives, the platform soared to unimaginable heights, turning listeners’ love for immersive tales into a record-breaking Rs 1,051.97 crore in revenue.
Listeners didn’t just tune in—they built an empire of stories, one stream at a time.
From thrilling mysteries to heartwarming romances, Pocket FM didn’t just entertain—it transformed how the world experiences audio. With over 100 billion minutes streamed and 45 million microtransactions logged, the platform became the beating heart of a global community united by their love for storytelling.
If 2024 was a chapter, it was one filled with blockbuster growth, listener passion, and the unmistakable sound of success.
And as Pocket FM inches closer to profitability, one thing is clear: this isn’t the end of the story—it’s just the beginning of a gripping new era in entertainment.
In 2024, Pocket FM saw listeners stream over 100 billion minutes of content globally, completing more than 45 million transactions. With 54 per cent Gen Z, 37 per cent Millennials, and 5 per cent Gen X, the platform captivated a young and diverse audience. Its near-balanced gender demographic—53 per cent male and 47 per cent female—highlighted the platform’s broad appeal.
AI-powered innovation drove this unprecedented growth. Pocket FM expanded its content library by 36X with AI-generated series, while human-narrated series increased 2X, ensuring quality and variety for its listeners. Financially, over seven audio series crossed $10 million in revenue, marking a 600 per cent growth from 2023, while 35 audio series achieved million-dollar milestones—three times more than the previous year.
Romance and Drama dominated globally, followed by Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Thriller, captivating audiences in India and the US.
The platform also reshaped listening habits, with 200,000 users spending over 3 hours daily, and 10,000 users listening for more than 3,000 hours annually. Morning and commute hours (5-11 AM) accounted for 30 per cent of daily consumption, while late-night listening (11 PM-5 AM) surged to 22.9 per cent, reflecting a shift from traditional TV to audio series during leisure hours.
India emerged as a key market, with cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad leading in listener engagement. Popular audio series captured the imagination of millions:
. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh: Played 100 million times
. Secret Ameerzaada: Played 85 million times
. Insta Millionaire: Played 60 million times
. Insta Empire: Played 50 million times
. Super Yoddha: Played 42 million times
Pocket FM CEO & co-founder, Rohan Nayak highlighted the platform’s impact, “In 2024, we didn’t just grow; we redefined the very nature of entertainment by establishing audio series as a mainstream entertainment. Audio series, as a category, is no longer a niche—they are the next evolution of global entertainment. This year’s achievements are a testament to the immense potential of this category and our commitment to leading its growth.”
Through its blend of human creativity and AI innovation, Pocket FM built a scalable, cross-cultural content ecosystem that has revolutionised how audiences consume stories.
eNews
PNB partners Kiwi to launch credit-enabled UPI for users
Targets 180 million customers; RuPay card offers 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent cashback
MUMBAI: Swipe, tap, or scan credit is quietly slipping into the rhythm of everyday payments, and Punjab National Bank wants in on the action. The state-run lender has partnered with Kiwi to roll out credit-enabled UPI payments for its 180 million customers, marking a significant push to blend traditional banking with India’s fast-evolving digital payments ecosystem.
At the centre of the collaboration is the launch of the PNB Kiwi Credit Card on the RuPay network. The card is designed with a digital-first approach, offering fully online onboarding and seamless integration with UPI, allowing users to transact via scan-and-pay while accessing credit.
The offering also brings in a rewards layer, with cashback ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on online transactions, positioning the product as both a convenience play and a spending incentive.
The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, increasingly blurring the lines between debit-led transactions and credit access. For PNB, which operates over 10,000 branches around 60 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas, the partnership signals a targeted effort to extend formal credit to segments that have traditionally remained underserved.
The collaboration also reflects a broader industry shift, where banks and fintech platforms are converging to embed credit directly into payment flows, reducing friction while expanding access.
With RuPay credit cards gaining traction and UPI evolving beyond peer-to-peer transfers, the PNB–Kiwi tie-up positions both players at the intersection of scale, accessibility, and the next phase of digital finance in India.
