Table of contents
- Who is the TVF Founder?
- The Growth of TVF (The Viral Fever)
- Top TVF Shows that Changed Indian Web Content
- Business Model of TVF
- Controversies & Comeback
- Key Lessons from Arunabh Kumar’s Journey
- Behind-the-Scenes: How TVF Makes Its Content
- Impact of TVF on Indian Content Ecosystem
- TVF vs Traditional Indian Media
- Future Plans for TVF
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The TVF Founder is an IITian who changed the face of Indian digital entertainment forever. In a time when Indian youth were tired of daily soaps and traditional Bollywood, TVF (The Viral Fever) brought a breath of fresh, relatable, and humorous content online. From “Pitchers” to “Kota Factory”, TVF has created shows that shaped modern Indian storytelling. But who is the mastermind behind this revolution? Let’s dig deeper.
Who is the TVF Founder?

Name: Arunabh Kumar
Founded TVF in 2010
Background:
- B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur (Engineering Physics)
- Former assistant director on Shah Rukh Khan’s “Om Shanti Om”
- Known as “The Qtiyapa Guy” – his online alias
🔥 Why Arunabh Kumar is Noteworthy:
- One of the first Indian creators to identify the power of YouTube and OTT content
- Pioneered youth-centric storytelling in India
- Introduced India’s first digital sitcoms and web series
- Raised the standard of scripted content in the Indian web space
The Growth of TVF (The Viral Fever)
Year | Milestone |
---|---|
2010 | TVF founded as a youth entertainment platform |
2012 | Released first viral hit – Rowdies (a spoof of MTV Roadies) |
2015 | TVF Pitchers redefined web series in India |
2016 | Permanent Roommates – India’s first successful rom-com web series |
2019 | Kota Factory became India’s first black-and-white web series |
2023 | Multiple shows are streamed on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and TVFPlay |
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Top TVF Shows that Changed Indian Web Content
Show Name | Year Released | Genre | Platform |
---|---|---|---|
Pitchers | 2015 | Startup/Drama | TVFPlay, ZEE5 |
Kota Factory | 2019 | Coming-of-Age/Drama | YouTube, Netflix |
Permanent Roommates | 2014 | Comedy/Romance | TVFPlay, YouTube |
Aspirants | 2021 | UPSC/Drama | YouTube |
Tripling | 2016 | Comedy/Adventure | TVFPlay, SonyLIV |
Panchayat | 2020 | Comedy/Drama | Amazon Prime Video |
📌 Highlight: TVF’s Aspirants was ranked among the top 10 global YouTube web series in 2021.
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Business Model of TVF
TVF Monetises Through:
- Branded content (in partnership with companies like Flipkart, Ola, Paytm)
- YouTube ad revenue
- TVFPlay subscriptions
- Licensing to OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, ZEE5
Estimated Revenue (2023): ₹60–70 Crores
Employees (2024): Over 150 creatives, writers & production staff
Controversies & Comeback
In 2017, Arunabh Kumar stepped down as CEO following allegations of misconduct.
- Internal changes followed, including new leadership
- Kumar made a comeback in 2022 and started working on new projects
- TVF continued producing shows with strong social storytelling
Key Lessons from Arunabh Kumar’s Journey
- 🎓 Educational background doesn’t limit creativity
- 📱 First-mover advantage on digital platforms matters
- 🎬 Content is king – consistent quality creates loyal viewership
- 💡 Innovate, adapt, evolve – TVF adjusted with platform trends
- 🔁 Resilience pays off – despite controversies, the brand bounced back
Behind-the-Scenes: How TVF Makes Its Content
- Writers’ Rooms: TVF has a dedicated in-house team of 50+ writers
- Data-Driven Ideas: They study youth interests, trending issues
- Authenticity: Scripts go through multiple drafts for realism
- Micro-Targeting: Shows like Kota Factory target students in Tier-2 cities
Impact of TVF on Indian Content Ecosystem
✅ Birthed a generation of digital actors (Jitendra Kumar, Naveen Kasturia)
✅ Inspired new age content creators (e.g., Dice Media, FilterCopy)
✅ Led OTT platforms to fund Indian web shows heavily
✅ Helped normalise online-only series in Indian households
✅ Introduced storytelling that represents urban Indian youth realistically
TVF vs Traditional Indian Media
Category | Traditional TV | TVF |
---|---|---|
Target Audience | Family audience | Urban Indian youth (18-35) |
Format | Long-form soaps | Short web series (4-6 episodes) |
Language | Hindi/Regional | Hinglish, Urban Hindi |
Medium | Cable/DTH | YouTube, OTT |
Content | Drama-heavy, unrealistic | Relatable, real-life inspired |
Interactivity | None | YouTube comments, fan feedback |
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Future Plans for TVF

- Expanding partnerships with global OTT platforms
- Launching more regional content (Tamil, Telugu, Marathi)
- Investing in animation and youth-based education series
- Planning TVF Original Films for OTT
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Conclusion
Arunabh Kumar, the TVF founder, has completely transformed the way Indian audiences consume entertainment. What started as a small experiment became a powerhouse of digital content. TVF didn’t just make viral videos — it built characters, told stories, and connected deeply with India’s youth. And most importantly, it proved that you don’t need a big screen to make a big impact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Arunabh Kumar, an IIT Kharagpur graduate, is the founder of TVF.
TVF was started in 2010 as an online digital entertainment network.
TVF stands for The Viral Fever.
Rowdies – a spoof of MTV Roadies.
He stepped down in 2017 but has been associated again post-2022 in creative roles.
Pitchers, Kota Factory, Aspirants, Tripling, and Permanent Roommates.
TVF shows are available on YouTube, TVFPlay, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and ZEE5.
TVF earns through ads, branded content, OTT licensing, and TVFPlay subscriptions.
Many shows are available for free on YouTube, while others require subscriptions on OTT platforms.
Relatable storytelling, youth-centric themes, strong writing, and fresh talent.