ITV

Tag: Mobile Streaming

  • “This is just the start”: Anshuman Misraa on Reelies’ explosive growth

    “This is just the start”: Anshuman Misraa on Reelies’ explosive growth

    MUMBAI: Reelies isn’t just dipping its toes into the entertainment scene—it’s doing a full cannonball. On 17 February, Anshuman Misraa dropped a LinkedIn update that made waves, revealing that Reelies has skyrocketed to 120K customer sign-ups, launched six binge-worthy series, and gained a fiercely loyal Instagram following of 24.4K. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Contract Marriage has racked up a jaw-dropping 3.5 million views, while Reelies’ Instagram page has amassed a staggering 37 million impressions in just 90 days. Talk about a vertical takeoff!

    “This is just the start”, Misraa declared. And if these numbers are any indication, he’s absolutely right.

    Reelies is not just another streaming app; it’s the snackable content revolution your scrolling thumb deserves. Offering short drama videos and vertical web series, Reelies ensures you get gripping entertainment without the hassle of flipping your phone sideways. Whether you’re into heart-fluttering romances, nail-biting thrillers, or laugh-out-loud comedies, it’s all served up in bite-sized portions. Available on Android and Ios, the app delivers on-demand streaming with a lightning-fast, user-friendly interface and unlimited original content—because why settle for long and boring when you can have short and addictive content?

    “In an exclusive phone interview with Indiantelevision.com, Misraa shared insights on Reelies’ rapid growth, future innovations, and the impact of his viral LinkedIn update.”

    Edited excerpts from the call

    Misraa shared that on average, viewers spend about nine minutes a day watching Reelies’ short dramas. “It’s quick, impactful, and keeps them hooked before their next scroll”, he said. While Reelies enjoys a global presence, India remains its stronghold, accounting for nearly 95 per cent of its audience. “We’ve tapped into a format that resonates deeply with Indian audiences, and it’s paying off,” he added.

    When it comes to influencer power, Reelies isn’t playing small. The platform has already launched eight series featuring a roster of influencers with a combined Instagram following of 150 million. “We’re bringing back Riyaz Ali, who has 27.7 million followers, for another show”, Misraa revealed. Jaswant Bopanna is also set to return, while new faces Akriti Negi, Ratan from Chandigarh, and Shagun Sharma are joining the lineup. “We’re constantly scouting for fresh talent who bring new energy to our platform”, he added.

    Reelies is a full-fledged creative powerhouse, handling all production in-house. With a dedicated team of writers, directors, producers, and crew, every project is crafted with complete creative control. “Everything is done internally to ensure the highest quality and consistency,” Misraa noted.

    And if you’re wondering where the money is coming from—no, there are no big investors pulling the strings. Reelies is entirely self-funded, with Misraa personally backing the venture. “We are completely bootstrapped, with all investments coming from my personal funds,” he confirmed.

    Unlike traditional platforms, Reelies isn’t looking to integrate with other players. The vertical storytelling format is a unique space, and Misraa believes Reelies is pioneering Indian short-form drama in this space. “This is a separate category; vertical storytelling operates differently from traditional horizontal video platforms,” he explained.

    As for competition, Misraa isn’t worried. “In India, we are the first to launch a dedicated vertical short-drama platform. Others may be planning similar concepts, but we have already established our presence and are moving forward. Internationally, competition exists, but we are pioneering Indian short-form drama production.”

    Road ahead

    Reelies has ambitious expansion plans, with a goal of producing 50 series within the first year—all in-house. Currently, the Reelies app is the sole distribution platform, with no plans for syndication. Growth has been driven by organic strategies and a lean marketing budget. “Our focus is on leveraging social media to expand our reach. We are targeting over one million downloads within the next six months while keeping customer acquisition costs low,” Misraa concluded.

    Looking back on the early days, Misraa highlighted the rigorous efforts to fine-tune Reelies’ storytelling format. “We have even developed our own ‘Bible’ to train writers on how to create & produce content in this unique format,” he said. He credited his seasoned production team for smooth execution but stressed the critical role of writing. “Writing is the foundation of everything. It’s the key to making this format work.”

    Misraa isn’t pulling off this entertainment coup alone. Backing him are co-founders Anshumaali Jha and Mridul Toolsidass. Toolsidass, a writer-director and National Award winner for Toolsidass Jr. in 2022, injects serious creative firepower into Reelies. With a dream team like this, Reelies isn’t just redefining short-form entertainment in India—it’s flipping the script entirely. And if the last 90 days are anything to go by, this rollercoaster is just picking up speed.

    (Story updated at 8pm)

  • Kuku TV transforms India’s OTT space with vertical microdrama boom

    Kuku TV transforms India’s OTT space with vertical microdrama boom

    MUMBAI: India’s digital entertainment landscape just got a bold new entrant—Kuku TV. The country’s first vertical OTT platform has officially launched, redefining storytelling with serialised microdramas tailored for today’s mobile-first audience. Designed to be fast, engaging, and binge-worthy, Kuku TV is here to disrupt the streaming game with high-intensity, cliffhanger-driven episodes.

    With over five million downloads during its beta phase, Kuku TV is scaling rapidly, proving that Indian audiences are ready for a new era of content consumption. The platform delivers short episodic stories in a vertical format, optimised for smartphones—each episode lasting under two minutes, with series spanning over 50+ episodes.

    If you thought long-form drama was the only way to hook audiences, Kuku TV is here to prove otherwise.

    mini seires

    According to an Ericsson study, 57 per cent of global video plays come from mobile devices, with 94 per cent of users holding their phones vertically. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of Indian users consume short-form vertical videos daily, yet the OTT space had no dedicated premium platform to cater to this demand—until now.

    Kuku co-founder & COO Vinod Kumar Meena shared, “Traditional OTTs are stuck in an era where TV-sized screens were the norm. India’s audience has moved on—they’re watching content on their smartphones, in vertical mode, and in short bursts. With Kuku TV, we’re not just launching a streaming platform; we’re pioneering an entirely new way of storytelling. Given our experience with Kuku FM, where we scaled to 4.5 million paying subscribers, we understand what works for personalised content consumption, and we’re applying those learnings to video streaming.”

    Nearly 95 per cent of India’s creative talent remains undiscovered due to outdated distribution models. Kuku TV is bridging this gap by offering a direct-to-consumer channel for independent filmmakers, writers, and production houses to monetise their work and connect with millions of viewers. The platform is already collaborating with directors and producers to develop original microdramas and acquire rights to underrepresented films.

    Unlike traditional OTT platforms that rely on ad-based models, Kuku TV operates on a pure subscription model:

    . Annual subscription: Rs 899

    . Quarterly subscription: Rs 399

    Make Scrolling

    India already has 500 million plus OTT users and 100 million plus active paid subscriptions (Ormax Report). With over 900 million internet users in the country and 150 million already paying for content, the next digital shift is inevitable. As India surpasses the one billion internet user mark, the number of paid content subscribers is expected to reach 500 million, with 300 million potential users for vertical microdramas.

    Say hello to the future of vertical entertainment. By merging short-form content with compelling storytelling, it creates an immersive, binge-worthy experience designed for the new-age mobile viewer. With fresh content dropping every day, including one regional Indian microdrama daily, Kuku TV ensures a dynamic library spanning genres like Action, Bollywood, Sci-Fi, and Mythology.

    For filmmakers, investors, and creators looking to be part of this storytelling revolution, Kuku TV is now accepting applications for collaborations.

    Download Now:

    . Android: Google Play Store

    . iOS: Apple App Store

  • Netflix to keep both dubbing and subtitling options available

    Netflix to keep both dubbing and subtitling options available

    MUMBAI: The fact that India has a higher per cent of mobile streaming compared to the US has caught Netflix’s eye. Speaking at a session moderated by CNN News 18 Editor Anuradha Sengupta on the stage of FICCI Frames 2019, Netflix VP Product Todd Yellin said that despite the liking for the small screens, India’s fondness for the big screen will not fade away.

    While Netflix has already delivered hits like Sacred Games in India, the OTT platform will double its investment in the country. He also added in a presentation that the series was a global hit for the service, with two out of three viewers of the show live outside India. On the other hand, Indians are also loving international shows as Bandersnatch was a huge hit here also.

    “We don’t care about someone’s gender so we don’t collect it. We don’t care about the age so we don’t collect it. The only data we really care about is taste and we don’t want to stereotype. Internet TV is for everyone to liberate and make the experience greater so they can enjoy entertainment on their control and that’s what we care about,” Yellin commented while asked about the demographic and psychographic profile of Netflix users in the country.

    To reach to more people, Netflix is also planning to extend the number of languages in which the content is available. While Orange is the new Black was released in seven languages back in 2013, The Umbrella Academy was released in more than 25 languages six weeks ago.

    Along with subtitling, Netflix also wants to keep the dubbing option always available for users given the past data. “45 per cent of people watched Ghoul in English speaking countries with dubbing, 37 per cent with subtitles and 18 per cent with both,” he highlighted.

    Although Netflix is becoming unbeatable among OTT platforms, Disney’s entry in the space is likely to pose a challenge. However, the company seems to look at it positively as Yellin said competition motivates the team venturing into more interesting things.

    The OTT platform will be doubling down on interactive series also but it won’t necessarily be science fiction or dark. According to Yellin, it could be a wacky comedy or a romance even. With all the plans in store, the next couple of years will be interesting to see how the OTT platform handles its leading position as other big pocket players are stepping in.