iWorld
Streaming Wars 2024: Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+ Hotstar capture viewer eyeballs, Ormax Report Reveals
MUMBAI: Prime Video and Netflix led India’s streaming landscape in 2024, capturing significant viewership across Hindi originals, while Disney+ Hotstar excelled in Tamil and Telugu content, according to Ormax Media’s Streaming Originals in India – The 2024 Story.
The Hindi language space saw Prime Video’s Mirzapur Season 3 topping the list with 30.8 million viewers, followed by Panchayat Season 3 (28.2 million) and Netflix’s Heeramandi (21.5 million). Both platforms secured five entries each in the top 15 Hindi web series.
In Hindi direct-to-OTT films, Netflix dominated with 11 of the top 15 spots, including Do Patti (15.1 million viewers), Sector 36 (13.9 million) and Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (13.5 million).
The Hindi non-fiction space saw JioCinema’s Bigg Boss OTT Season 3 come out trumps and emerge as the most-watched unscripted show with 17.8 million viewers. Netflix’s The Great Indian Kapil Show followed with 15.7 million. Then came the great Indian start up hunt show SonyLiv’s Shark Tank India Season 3 which garnered 12.5 million viewers.
Disney+ Hotstar reigned supreme in Tamil and Telugu streaming. Save The Tigers Season 2 (five million viewers) and Inspector Rishi (4.9 million) led their respective categories. The platform secured four Telugu and seven Tamil entries in the top 10 lists.
Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 became the most-watched international series with 19.6 million viewers, setting a new all-time record in India. Prime Video’s Road House led among international films with six million viewers.
The report highlighted the growing demand for regional and franchise-driven content, supported by a robust subscriber base across platforms. Ormax Media’s methodology estimated unique viewership based on primary research, reflecting India’s expanding streaming audience.
You can download the report here
e-commerce
Google rolls out new AI shopping tools for Indian users
Gemini, AI Mode in Search, and Circle to Search get smarter upgrades to simplify online buying.
MUMBAI: Google is making online shopping in India a lot less “add to cart” and a lot more “ask and discover”. The tech giant has announced a fresh set of artificial intelligence-powered updates designed to make finding and buying products more intuitive and efficient. By integrating its Gemini models with the Shopping Graph, a massive dataset of over 50 billion product listings that sees nearly 2 billion updates every hour, Google is bringing smarter, more conversational shopping experiences across its platforms.
Users can now move seamlessly from idea generation to product discovery within the Gemini app. Whether planning a festive outfit or building a gift list, shoppers can receive product listings, comparison tables, pricing from across the web, and direct purchase links, all through natural conversation. The feature is currently available in English and Hindi.
Google has upgraded its AI Mode in Search, turning it into a more natural shopping assistant. Instead of relying on traditional filters and keywords, users can ask questions in plain language and receive structured responses with visuals, pricing, reviews, and inventory details. Comparison tables highlighting key differences are also included. While currently available in English, a Hindi version is expected soon.
The popular Circle to Search feature has been enhanced on devices such as the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 series. Users can now identify and explore multiple objects in a single image at once. In fashion-related queries, the tool can break down entire outfits and suggest similar products, making style replication or discovery much easier.
Google stated that these updates build on last year’s successful rollout of the Virtual Try-On tool in India, which helped users visualise apparel before purchase.
In a market where shopping decisions often happen in seconds, Google is betting that smarter AI will turn casual browsing into confident buying. From festive shopping lists to spotting the perfect outfit in a photo, these new tools aim to make every scroll feel a little more rewarding and a lot less overwhelming.
