hoichoi Advertising

Who watches hoichoi?

hoichoi is the Bengali streaming app of SVF Entertainment, the Kolkata studio behind many Bengali films. It calls itself India's first language OTT platform. Its viewers are Bengalis, at home and around the world.

In September 2024, hoichoi's COO told Storyboard18 that the app had around 13 million subscribers across more than 100 countries. He said over 45 percent of users lived outside West Bengal. The core audience was 30 plus, the 50 plus segment was growing fastest, and the male to female split was 60:40.

That is an unusual profile for Indian OTT. It is older, more balanced by gender and more global than most. A Kolkata hospital chain, a jewellery brand or an NRI home loan offer can all find a fit here.

Does hoichoi run ads?

This is the first thing to know. hoichoi has kept its core content free of traditional ads since launch. Subscriptions bring in most of its revenue.

Brands still work with hoichoi, but mostly through branded content. In the same 2024 report, hoichoi said its ad revenue had grown 200 percent year on year, driven by branded content rather than ad breaks. Earlier, SVF said it was open to in-product placements and branding inside shows.

So when you ask for hoichoi advertising, we do two things. We check if any programmatic video or display inventory is open for your dates. And we ask hoichoi for a branded content proposal if your budget suits it. We will not promise in-stream volume that the app does not sell.

Here is how the options compare.

What does hoichoi advertising cost?

Where programmatic inventory is open, the indicative hoichoi CPM is ₹300–750. The minimum spend is about ₹3 lakh. We confirm the final rate per campaign, and GST is extra.

The higher CPM, compared with mass OTT apps, reflects two things. The audience is narrow and hard to find elsewhere in one place. And the inventory that does open up is small, so it is priced like a specialist buy. If you only need cheap Bengali impressions, YouTube will beat it on price. If you want a premium Bengali setting, hoichoi earns its place.

Branded content is priced by hoichoi as a fixed fee. It depends on the show, the level of integration and production needs. We share the publisher's quote once we have it.

When should you advertise to Bengali audiences?

Durga Puja is the biggest season in the Bengali calendar, in September or October. Viewing, shopping and brand activity all peak. Poila Baisakh, the Bengali new year in April, is the second big moment.

Integrations need lead time. If you want your brand inside a Puja release, start the conversation a few months ahead.

How do you measure hoichoi campaigns?

For programmatic lines, we report impressions, reach, frequency, completion and delivery by device and region. Brand lift is possible on larger campaigns.

Branded content is different. You will rely on the publisher's views and engagement numbers, plus your own search and site data. A simple trick is to run a short brand survey before and after the show goes live.

How does hoichoi compare with other Bengali options?

JioHotstar and ZEE5 carry Bengali serials and films, with more ad inventory. YouTube has large Bengali channels and the lowest cost per view. hoichoi has the strongest Bengali-only brand, a premium image and a global reach to the diaspora.

In practice, many Bengali plans pair a hoichoi integration with programmatic video on larger apps. Our post on planning an OTT campaign shows how to split budget across platforms. Or ask for a free media plan built on your numbers.

Tips for better results

Write for Bengali viewers, not just in Bengali. Local idioms, food and festivals make an ad feel at home.

Use hoichoi for association and trust, and use other platforms for frequency. Expecting both from one app will disappoint.

Plan Puja work early, because the best shows fill up first.