iWorld
Women’s Day: Planet Marathi offers free annual subscription to all women
Mumbai: Streaming platform Planet Marathi has announced to offer women a free year-long subscription to its service on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
The plan can be availed by subscribing to the OTT service on 8 March, said the statement.
“Today, women have established their excellence in all fields,” remarked Planet Marathi OTT founder Akshay Bardapurkar. “Their performance and sincerity towards their duty or work is certainly admirable.” Women at large have carved a niche for themselves in almost all walks of life and to celebrate this we are giving a kind of tribute to women by means of a free yearly subscription and what better day than a Women’s Day.”
Planet Marathi OTT is backed by Vistas Media Capital and launched a year ago offering digital entertainment to Marathi audiences with a variety of exclusive Marathi content. Their content ranges from web series, films, classic library of films, music, concerts, folklores and upcoming genres like karaoke tracks, podcasts and celebrity shows etc. The platform is accessible via app downloadable on Play Store, App Store and through its website.
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.
