03 · Series Development

Series Development

Streaming Intelligence Engine. Evaluated at concept, script, or first cut — before production is committed or a season is locked. Completion rate, binge potential, and platform fit assessed before a rupee is spent.

Content Categories

SDI evaluates series and streaming titles across every major content category in the Indian streaming ecosystem.

Indian Fiction Series
International Fiction Series
Non-Fiction & Reality Series
Docudrama & Documentary
Direct-to-OTT Films
International Co-productions & Acquisitions

What SDI Answers at Series Stage

The questions SDI answers before production begins, before a season is locked, before streaming decisions are made.

  • Will audiences complete this series — or drop off after Episode 1?
  • What is the binge potential — and what is restraining it?
  • Is this concept built for the platform it is targeting?
  • What changes will improve completion rate — and by how much?
  • What is the completion rate and platform fit score for this project?
Streaming Intelligence Engine
Input

Series concept / pilot script / first cut of Season

Score

CLE Series Rating — Concept + Category + Genre

Output

Completion rate forecast + platform fit assessment + series development roadmap

SDI Streaming Benchmark

Every evaluation is benchmarked against a continuously updated database of Indian and international series — across fiction, non-fiction, documentary, and direct-to-OTT titles.

854+
Hindi fiction series tracked since 2020
284+
International series evaluated
400+
Direct-to-OTT films assessed
10+
Streaming platforms mapped across India

What We Are Actually Measuring

The question most streaming research answers is: did audiences enjoy this content? That is the wrong question. The right question is: does this concept have the narrative and structural design to hold an audience through multiple episodes — and does it align with how streaming behaviour is evolving on its target platform?

The Series Is Scored Against a Live Streaming Model

Not against static benchmarks. The SDI streaming model is continuously updated with every series that releases — across fiction, non-fiction, documentary, and direct-to-OTT titles.

Category Positioning Determines the Ceiling

A crime thriller series on a premium platform has different audience expectations than a family drama on a mass platform. SDI benchmarks every concept within its category and platform context.

The Output Is a Development Roadmap — Not Just a Score

CLE Series rating with no pathway is just a number. SDI delivers specific recommendations — what will improve binge velocity, what will reduce drop-off, and what will strengthen platform fit.

The Key Questions

Will audiences complete this?

Completion rate forecast — benchmarked against comparable series in the same category and genre.

What is causing drop-off risk?

Episode design, pacing, character investment, narrative architecture — scored against streaming audience behaviour patterns.

Is this concept built for its platform?

Platform fit evaluation — genre alignment, tone, target audience match, and algorithm discoverability potential.

What changes — and how much will each shift the forecast?

Development recommendations with quantified forecast impact — not just notes.

What You Receive

A structured evaluation and an active conversation — not a report filed and forgotten. Engagements cover concept stage through pilot, before series goes into production.

The Deliverables

  • Series concept benchmarking & category analysis
  • CLE Series rating — concept + genre + platform layer
  • Episode design & binge architecture evaluation
  • Character investment & drop-off risk assessment
  • Completion rate & platform fit assessment
  • Platform fit evaluation
  • Series development recommendations
  • One advisory session included
Engagement Window

Concept stage through pilot — before series goes into production.

Earlier engagement = more creative decisions still open = higher impact.