To date, Pocket FM’s campaign has garnered over 65 unique pieces of media coverage across multiple top-tier and international media outlets. With over 2,000 media exposures in 2024 alone and thousands more in 2025, reaching over 1.6 million viewers across a potential global audience of over 337 million, Otter PR has successfully helped Pocket FM receive recognition for innovation and storytelling, reflecting its expanding influence and commitment to delivering high-quality, diverse content.
Project Overview
Pocket FM is an India-based venture aiming to revitalize the modern entertainment industry through the reintroduction of dramatic audio-based storytelling (e.g., Orson Welles’s “War of the Worlds”) for modern, digitally native audiences.
Known for its engaging audio series and stories, Pocket FM seeks to introduce a unique audio entertainment experience to a broader audience. While the company has become a key player in the entertainment industry, particularly in the audio series market, it is currently expanding its reach and brand presence in the competitive US market.
Client Goals
Pocket FM’s primary challenge was gaining credibility and traction as a brand entering the US market from India. Known for its competitive landscape and preference for local content, the US entertainment market often views foreign companies with skepticism.
Pocket FM partnered with Otter PR to help target media outlets that resonate with US audiences and align its brand messaging with their evolving preferences for on-demand, convenient entertainment options. It also sought ways to optimize its user experience to better cater to local tastes and demands.
Integrating localized features and collaborating with media outlets to create compelling narratives around its product was a major goal of Pocket FM in positioning itself as a go-to platform for high-quality, immersive audio content. Furthermore, during Pocket FM’s campaign, the client alerted us that the company would be rebranding to Pocket Entertainment to expand its digital entertainment offerings, including Pocket Toons for webcomics and independent novels through Pocket Novel.
The Strategy
Our team knew that Pocket needed to differentiate itself from US-based competitors, who had already entrenched themselves in the audio entertainment sector. Achieving this required us to build strong local partnerships and secure top-tier media placements that would not only showcase Pocket’s unique content but also signal credibility to US consumers through:
- Press Release Campaigns: Utilizing press releases to spotlight new services offered by Pocket Entertainment, such as Pocket Toons and Pocket Novel.
- Highlighting Innovations: Utilizing personal connections to secure full features and listicles in top-tier outlets to showcase Pocket’s technological advancements, especially its use of AI in transforming audio entertainment.
- Casting a Wide Net: Pitching both mid- and top-tier outlets to maximize exposure, while targeting niche publications with tailored story angles.
- Niche Targeting: Developing specific topic-driven pitches for specialized media, enhancing relevance and pickup rates.
- Thought Leadership Positioning: Establishing Pocket as a credible leader in the industry to foster greater trust, brand recognition, visibility, and credibility in the US market.
- Top-Tier Placement Tactics: Leveraging features and listicles in top-tier media placements to drive visibility and build recognition by crafting content that highlighted Pocket’s expansive library of audio series and its innovative storytelling formats.
Success
Since partnering with Otter PR in October 2023, Pocket Entertainment has experienced substantial growth. In March 2024, it raised $103 million in its Series D round, increasing its valuation to $750 million. The company also reported that it had grown to over 1,000 employees with an annual revenue of $31.7 million as it began further expansion into the US market, as well as the UK and German markets in Europe.
Obtaining top-tier media coverage for Pocket Entertainment, including publications like OK! Magazine, Hackernoon, The Street, and Tech Times had a significant impact on the company’s presence in the US market by spotlighting over 100 of its original audio series, often alongside other well-known OTT platforms. As a result of this coverage, Pocket’s leadership team was selected for thought leadership Q&As and discussions in several industry-leading podcasts, such as “Film Festival Radio” and “The Digital Executive,” helping to further establish Pocket Entertainment as the leading provider of audio-based entertainment and the progenitor of the modern audio series.
Additionally, Rahul Nag (Dir. Brands, Communications & Partnerships) shared the following information in a recent LinkedIn post regarding Pocket FM’s online presence:
“When I joined Pocket FM in April 2022, our LinkedIn page had just 20,000 followers. Today, we have crossed 500,000 followers in just 40 months — entirely organic, without spending a single rupee on promotions.”
By the end of its 2025 fiscal year, Pocket Entertainment reported that its annual revenue had skyrocketed to over $200 million (Rs 1,768 crore), achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of approximately $230 million (Rs 2,000 crore). Reports further stated that the company “saw more than 100 billion minutes of streaming, with 5 million microtransactions happening every month.”
