iWorld
SVoD subscriptions to see massive growth worldwide
MUMBAI: Streamers across the world are ready to pay for online video. According to a new study by analyst firm Digital TV Research, SVOD subscriptions will more than double between 2017 and 2023. While Global pay-TV and SVoD subscriptions are expected to reach 1.877 bn by 2023, traditional pay-TV(http://www.indiantelevision.com/dth/dth-operator/dish-tv) will only add 94 mn subscribers.
At the end of 2017, the number of subscribers stood at 222 mn in US which is predicted to reach to 289 mn subscriptions by 2023. But China will see the highest rate of growth by adding 171 mn subscriptions during this period to take its total to 610 mn. However, its pay TV subscription will grow by 32 mn only. India will add 49 mn pay-TV and SVoD subscriptions in this period.
Based on the new subscriptions, total subscription revenues (https://indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/global-ott-revenue-to-reach-129-bn-by-2023-says-study-180921) will increase by 11 per cent ($25.4 bn) to total $251 bn in this period. Due to cord cutting traditional pay-TV revenues will drop by $18.5 bn to $183 bn. On the other hand, SVoD’s revenue will climb by $43.7 bn to $69 bn. This revenue jump will lead to an increase in total share from 11 per cent in 2017 to 27 per cent in 2023.
The market leader US will see total revenue from $108 bn in 2017 to $105 billion in 2023. While Pay-TV subscription revenues will drop by $20 bn, SVoD additions will not be able to make up the shortfall.
iWorld
Uber spotlights Rs 25 bike rides with music led IPL campaign
Uber uses 15 second music films with Divine and Roll Rida to push Rs 25 rides
MUMBAI: In a season where ads usually swing for sixes with celebrity spectacle, Uber has chosen to play a clever single sharp, fast, and straight to the point. Uber has rolled out a distinctly stripped-down IPL campaign, putting its product Uber Bike rides starting at Rs 25 for up to 3 km front and centre, rather than leaning on big-budget storytelling. The campaign features hip-hop artist Divine in Mumbai and Roll Rida in southern markets, using music as the primary vehicle for recall.
IPL advertising has long been dominated by high-production narratives packed with cricketers and film stars. Uber’s approach flips that playbook. Instead of elaborate storytelling, the brand opts for 15-second music-led films quick, rhythmic bursts designed to mirror the pace of urban mobility itself.
The message is deliberately simple, affordable, fast rides that cut through city traffic. No layered plots, no extended build-up just a functional promise delivered with cultural flair.
In the Mumbai-led film, Divine zips through traffic on an Uber Bike, turning the Rs 25 price point into a hook with his signature wordplay around “pachisi”. The campaign cleverly reframes affordability as a moment of delight, the kind that leaves commuters with a “32-teeth smile” after beating traffic at minimal cost.
Meanwhile, Roll Rida’s version leans into southern sensibilities, blending Telugu and Tamil influences with high-energy visuals. Set to the beat of tape drums, the film celebrates how low-cost rides can unlock a more connected and vibrant city experience. Together, the films reflect a conscious push towards regional authenticity, rather than a one-size-fits-all national narrative.
The campaign also signals Uber’s sharper focus on India’s growing bike taxi segment. While the company offers multi-modal services spanning cars, autos, metro integrations and intercity travel, this push zeroes in on two-wheelers as a key growth lever in dense urban markets.
By anchoring the campaign around a Rs 25 entry price for short distances, Uber is targeting everyday commuters, particularly younger users navigating congested cities where speed and cost matter more than comfort.
With IPL advertising clutter at its peak, even the most straightforward message risks getting lost. Uber’s answer is to embed the proposition within culture using music, regional nuance and repeat-friendly short formats to drive recall. The creative team has also layered subtle visual cues including multiple references to “25” within frames encouraging repeat viewing and reinforcing the core message without over-explaining it.
The campaign reflects a broader shift in advertising priorities. As attention spans shrink and media environments get noisier, brands are increasingly favouring clarity over complexity and speed over scale.
Uber’s IPL play may not shout the loudest, but it lands where it matters in the everyday commute. Because sometimes, in a marketplace full of grand narratives, a Rs 25 ride is story enough.
