aha Advertising

Who watches aha?

aha is a Telugu streaming app first. It launched on 25 March 2020 and added a Tamil service in 2022. It is run by Arha Media and Broadcasting, a joint venture of Allu Aravind's Geetha Arts and the Hyderabad-based My Home Group.

In June 2023, aha's marketing head said the app had over 2.7 million paid subscribers. About 2.4 million of those were Telugu. He also said around 12 million people a month used the free library. Those are company figures from mid-2023, and we treat them as a guide rather than a current count.

The audience is broad. Young men come for new Telugu films and thrillers. Families watch reality and music shows together. aha says it is available in over 190 countries, so Telugu families abroad watch too.

How does advertising on aha work?

aha runs two tiers. Paid subscribers get premium originals and new films. Free users get a large library of older films, trailers, first episodes and other shows, supported by ads.

In 2023 the company said around 70 percent of its content was free for ad-supported viewers. That free library is where most programmatic inventory sits. Paid subscribers see fewer ads, so do not expect to reach every aha viewer through in-stream video.

aha has said eight brands sponsored Indian Idol Telugu. Sponsorships like that are sold by the publisher, not through DV360. We can request a proposal if your budget suits it.

What are aha ad rates?

Indicative aha ad rates are ₹250–500 CPM, with a minimum spend of about ₹5 lakh. We confirm the final CPM for each campaign. GST is extra.

Telugu-only targeting in Hyderabad, connected TV, and festival weeks around Sankranti and Dasara push the price up. Broader targeting across both languages keeps it lower.

A useful benchmark: ₹6 lakh at a ₹300 CPM buys about 20 lakh impressions. For a Hyderabad real estate developer launching a new tower, that is a solid local burst.

When should you advertise on aha?

Sankranti in January is the biggest moment for Telugu households. Film releases peak around it, and so does retail spending. Ugadi and Dasara are also strong.

aha's own big launches matter too. A new season of a popular reality or talk show brings a surge of viewers. Ask us to check the content calendar when you plan.

Tamil campaigns follow a different rhythm, with Pongal and Diwali as the main peaks.

How do you measure aha campaigns?

We report impressions, unique reach, average frequency, video completion and delivery by city and device. For larger budgets that qualify, we can set up a brand lift study.

If you are selling online, tag your site with Floodlight or your analytics tags. That lets you compare aha with YouTube and other channels on cost per visit, not only on CPM.

How does aha compare with other Telugu options?

JioHotstar and ZEE5 carry Telugu shows too, with bigger overall reach and higher entry costs. Sun NXT owns the Gemini TV library and suits serial audiences. YouTube is cheaper per view but much less curated.

aha's strength is focus. It is built around Telugu taste, with originals and non-fiction made for that market. For a Telugu-led plan, it fits well as a second or third OTT line after a larger platform. Ask for a free media plan to see how the numbers stack up.

Tips for better results

Shoot or dub your ad in Telugu, with Telugu supers. Viewers on aha chose a Telugu app on purpose.

Use local faces and places where you can. A Vijayawada setting lands better than a generic metro kitchen.

Keep a 10-second cut for short mid-roll breaks. And set a frequency cap, because film watchers on the free tier often see several breaks in one sitting.