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Daybreak

When cricket and Koffee aren’t enough, JioHotstar wants to make 'Sparks' fly

Apr 17, 2025
Rounak Kumar Gunjan, a reporter at The Ken, discusses JioHotstar's bold move with Sparks, a new platform targeting Gen Z with short, creator-led videos. He explores the shift from traditional content to bite-sized episodes and the strategic choices made, like removing comment sections to foster a different kind of engagement. The conversation dives into the rise of micro dramas and the challenges of keeping creators connected in a fast-changing media landscape, showcasing an innovative approach to audience interaction.
20:34

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Jio Hotstar's Sparks aims to attract Gen Z with high-quality short-form content while transitioning towards monetized long-form offerings.
  • The platform distinguishes itself by avoiding comments to enhance controlled engagement through alternative interactive features like quizzes.

Deep dives

Jio Hotstar's Strategic Shift with Sparks

Jio Hotstar's new initiative, Sparks, is an ambitious attempt to attract younger audiences with short-form video content, competing directly with platforms like YouTube and Instagram. The platform aims to transition users from free short videos to longer, monetized content, creating a new consumer funnel. Sparks will focus on professionally generated content with a higher production cost, a distinct departure from the user-generated format of competitors. This strategy indicates Jio Hotstar's desire to maintain quality while addressing the evolving content consumption habits of younger viewers.

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