iWorld
Zapped Technologies launches gaming & OTT app Pocket Cinema
Mumbai: Zapped Technologies has announced the launch of its app Pocket Cinema which offers a gaming platform that allows users to watch OTT content of their choice and play a simple skill based game around it to win rewards. The app is being touted as a novel concept in the world of gaming and entertainment, denoted by a new name #GOTT – a combination of gaming and OTT.
Pocket Cinema is a simple, skill based gaming platform targeted primarily at tier 2-3 cities where people aspire to earn money, online but they either don’t know how to, or do not possess the necessary skills for it. The app aims to make gaming technology inclusive and accessible, said the statement. Currently available on android phones, it will shortly be released for iOS, it added.
According to Pocket Cinema founder duo and co-CEOs Anshuman Singh and Anil Verma the options available online, by virtue of being either too complex or high-end and intimidating, alienate a major chunk of the population from tier 2-3 cities. “Pocket Cinema caters majorly to tier 2 and 3 town consumers, and offers a unique easy-to- play game coupled with entertainment. At present, the content is available in Hindi and Bhojpuri. Marathi, and Punjabi and South Indian Languages will follow soon,” they said.
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.
