Audio entertainment platform Pocket FM has wound up its microdrama experiment, Pocket TV, within months of its launch. The company has decided to shelve the video vertical to double down on its primary audio streaming operations and accelerate international growth, particularly as it lays the groundwork for an initial public offering (IPO).
The decision comes at a time when digital entertainment platforms are facing tightening capital environments, forcing companies to re-evaluate non-core experiments. Pocket TV was introduced as a beta project to test the waters in the short-form vertical video segment, which has seen growing interest from several content platforms over the last year.
However, the company has chosen to pull the plug on the venture to maintain an undivided focus on its financial runway and overseas audio market expansion.
Core Focus Shifts
A spokesperson for Pocket FM confirmed the development, stating that the project was never a core driver of the company's financial metrics. "Pocket TV was launched as a beta product to explore the emerging microdrama category and is not a material contributor to Pocket FM's business. As with any product experiment, we periodically evaluate performance and strategic fit, and any decisions related to Pocket TV are part of that normal process," the spokesperson said.
The company clarified that the closure of the video vertical will not impact its headcount, addressing market speculation regarding potential retrenchments. The digital entertainment sector has seen widespread restructuring over the past year, making workforce stability a key focus for mature startups.
"Our core focus remains building the world's leading audio entertainment platform. Audio continues to account for the overwhelming majority of our business, and we remain focused on scaling the category globally. Today, Pocket FM is one of the largest audio entertainment platforms globally and continues to see strong growth across its key international markets," the spokesperson added.
No Fresh Layoffs
Addressing concerns regarding the human capital impact of the shutdown, the management firmly dismissed reports of immediate job cuts. This clarification holds significance given that the Bengaluru-based company has already navigated structural reorganizations, cost-cutting exercises, and high-profile senior leadership exits earlier this year.
Pocket TV was launched as a beta product to explore the emerging microdrama category and is not a material contributor to Pocket FM's business.— Spokesperson, Pocket FM
"To be absolutely clear, no layoffs are being undertaken in connection with Pocket TV, and any suggestion otherwise is incorrect," the company representative stated officially.
The winding down of the microdrama division aligns with a broader corporate restructuring strategy. Pocket FM has initiated preliminary discussions to execute a "reverse flip"—a process that involves shifting its legal holding company back to India from overseas.
This regulatory migration is increasingly being adopted by high-growth Indian startups seeking to simplify their corporate structures ahead of a domestic stock market debut.
Intense IPO Race
The platform is operating in an intensifying competitive arena where rivals are rapidly firming up their public market timelines. Direct competitor Kuku Technologies, the parent entity behind Kuku FM and Kuku TV, has already confidentially filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the SEBI for a Rs 3,500 crore public issue, targeting a valuation of roughly Rs 15,000 crore.
Concurrently, Mohalla Tech, the operator of regional social media platform ShareChat, is actively charting its own IPO course over the next 12 to 18 months.
Despite the discontinuation of its video pilot, Pocket FM’s underlying financial health remains anchored by its core business. In April 2026, the company reported an annualized recurring revenue (ARR) run rate of $450 million.
This financial milestone has been largely driven by rapid monetization in North American and other international corridors, supplemented by the integration of artificial intelligence in content creation to lower production overheads.
About Pocket FM
Founded by Rohan Nayak, Nishanth KS, and Prateek Dixit, Pocket FM operates as a major player in the digital audio fiction space. The platform offers long-form audio series, audiobooks, and podcasts across multiple Indian and international languages.
By shifting away from capital-intensive video production formats like Pocket TV, the management aims to secure its operating margins and present a cleaner, audio-focused balance sheet to institutional investors ahead of its upcoming public listing.
