iWorld
SonyLIV ramps up content portfolio with live sports, dubbed regional show
KOLKATA: After months of waiting to see Team India in action, SonyLIV is here with a breather for all cricket lovers. The much-hyped India Tour of Australia will go live on the platform starting 27 November. In one of the most high-octane series in international cricket, Kohli’s Men in Blue will take on the Aussies for three ODI’s, three T20’s and four test matches on their home turf till 15 January 2021. With simultaneous feeds across four languages, the much-anticipated tour will be available for viewing to SonyLIV’s premium subscribers.
Post a successful period of quarantine, the teams are now set to lock horns this Friday onwards across venues in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne. Team India will begin with a slight edge over the hosts in the ODI’s, with a 12-10 win-loss record against them in the recent past. However, Australia, who recently defeated world champions England on their home turf, will look to replicate the victory, led by Aaron Finch. Premium subscribers will get access to the live feed without any delay.
There’s a lot to rejoice for soccer fans as well on SonyLIV with the popular UEFA Champions League 2020-21, the 66th season of Europe's premier club football tournament along with UEFA Europa League and Serie A matches going live on the platform. 2021 brings another sporting spectacle – Australian Open with Rafael Nadal headlining the event next year in Melbourne.
And there’s more in store for SonyLIV’s patrons. Following its stupendous success amongst audience and critics, Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story will now be available for regional audiences with dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada; along with a host of other titles like Avrodh: The Siege Within, Your Honor, Undekhi, and more.
In addition to this, the platform has recently launched titles like Uncommonsense by Saloni, Daan Sthapana hosted by author and speaker Devdutt Pattnaik and Mahabharat- Ant ya Aarambh, an 11-episode animation series. Highly acclaimed English shows like The Good Doctor S4 and For Life S2 are also up for viewing for the Indian audience. So, whether you are a cricket lover or a football enthusiast, an ardent fan of stand-up comedy or a devout believer in mythology, SonyLIV is the place to be.
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.
