iWorld
WinZO, Balaji join forces for India’s microdrama wave
MUMBAI: India’s digital screens just got a new heartbeat with WinZO and Balaji Telefilms teaming up to create the country’s first transmedia universe. The collaboration brings cinematic storytelling to microdramas, letting characters, games, and stories leap seamlessly across formats.
Within three months of launching its microdrama platform ZO TV, WinZO has already crossed 500 titles, making it one of the fastest-growing short-format content libraries globally. The move positions India firmly in the 26 billion dollar short-drama industry, one of the fastest-growing entertainment categories worldwide.
WinZO co-founder Paavan Nanda said, “We are building the world’s first transmedia platform from India, where games, stories, and digital experiences coexist. Microdramas are the next global frontier. Partnering with Balaji brings together top storytellers and cutting-edge technology to create stories that resonate in India and across the world.”
Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor added, “Storytelling must evolve with the times. From television to digital and now microdramas, this collaboration allows us to connect deeply with audiences everywhere.” Balaji Telefilms CRO Nitin Burman said, “Audiences today want bite-sized content but still crave emotion, drama, and connection. This partnership makes storytelling more interactive and engaging than ever before.”
WinZO has already achieved over 100 million episodes viewed globally, leveraging its 250 million users, 75,000 content creators, and a legacy of publishing and distributing 100 games. By focusing on authentic characters, strong writing, and culturally rooted narratives, the platform is redefining India’s storytelling soul while laying the foundation for a global transmedia franchise.
The partnership also includes initiatives to nurture India’s next generation of creators through workshops, creator accelerators, and collaborations at marquee forums such as Waves Film Bazaar and the International Film Festival of India. Microdramas are not just a new format, but the first step in building a creative ecosystem where India tells its stories to the world, one two-minute episode at a time.
iWorld
Veto onboards B4U Network channels to boost its entertainment offering
Partnership adds films, music and regional fare as platform sharpens its large-screen pitch
NEW DELHI: Veto is stacking its content deck. The family-first CTV-focused OTT platform has onboarded B4U Network, plugging in a slate of Bollywood, music and regional programming to widen its appeal in India’s living rooms.
The tie-up brings B4U Movies, B4U Music, B4U Kadak and Bhojpuri+ onto Veto, offering a broader mix of films, songs and vernacular content aimed at diverse audience cohorts. The move is designed to deepen engagement and nudge growth as competition in connected TV heats up.
Ritu Dhawan, managing director, Veto, framed the partnership as a scale play. “At Veto, our vision is to redefine large-screen entertainment for Indian households by creating a trusted, free, and unified viewing experience. Partnering with B4U Network strengthens our ability to offer deeply engaging and regionally relevant content, helping us connect more with audiences across India,” Dhawan said. “As we grow, our focus remains on delivering relevant, high-quality entertainment that families can enjoy together.”
The integration is expected to expand Veto’s audience base while improving content discovery and depth. The platform positions itself as a no-login, large-screen-first service, bundling live TV, news, sports, movies, music, podcasts and on-demand programming into a single interface tailored for connected TVs.
As streaming fragments and screens multiply, Veto is betting on aggregation and simplicity. More content, fewer clicks, broader reach—the pitch is clear, and the living room is the battleground.
