iWorld
Munawar’s back in action with First Copy S2
MUMBAI: He’s back to steal the spotlight, and maybe a few hearts along the way. Munawar Faruqui returns as Arif in the high-octane teaser for First Copy Season 2, unveiled by Amazon MX Player. The much-loved crime thriller that took audiences deep into Mumbai’s 90s film piracy underworld is revving up for a darker, more dangerous comeback.
The teaser hints at Arif’s turbulent return, a man once on top of the game, now haunted by the ghosts of his past. As ambition clashes with betrayal, old alliances crumble and new enemies emerge, leaving viewers with one burning question, can Arif reclaim his empire, or will his empire consume him?
Alongside Munawar, the ensemble cast features Krystle D’Souza, Gulshan Grover, Saqib Ayub, Ashi Singh, Meiyang Chang, Inam Ul Haq, Raza Murad and newcomer Nawab Shah. The trailer is set to drop on 29 October, setting the stage for the show’s grand return.
Following its breakout first season, First Copy has cemented itself as one of India’s most-watched crime dramas. Season 2 will soon stream for free across Amazon MX Player, the MX Player app, Prime Video, Fire TV and Airtel Xstream, ensuring fans can dive back into Arif’s world wherever they are.
With its gritty storyline, sharp writing and star-studded cast, First Copy Season 2 looks set to reclaim its throne as the kingpin of India’s streaming thrillers.
iWorld
T20 World Cup ’26: India–England semi-final sets global streaming record of 619 million views on JioHotstar
India–England semi-final records 65.2 million peak streams
MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set a new milestone in global sports streaming, as the India–England semi-final drew record digital audiences on JioHotstar.
The match on 5 March registered 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers, the highest ever recorded for a live event on any streaming platform worldwide. The semi-final also generated 619 million views, making it the most streamed T20 international match in history.
The landmark audience numbers were driven largely by viewers in India, setting a record achieved within a single market, rather than through aggregated viewership across multiple countries.
The high-scoring encounter between India national cricket team and England cricket team produced 499 runs across both innings, fuelling widespread fan engagement across platforms.
According to the International Cricket Council, the digital record surpassed the previous global benchmark of 65 million concurrent viewers, set in November 2024 by another international streaming platform.
Across television and digital platforms combined, the semi-final reached more than 320 million viewers, while total watch time exceeded 23 billion minutes, making it the most watched T20 international match ever.
“This World Cup demonstrates the immense passion of cricket fans and the progress made in bringing the game closer to audiences worldwide,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah.
“This moment reflects the scale of cricket fandom in India and the technological capability required to serve hundreds of millions of viewers simultaneously.”
JioStar vice-chairman Uday Shankar, said the audience surge underscored the future of large-scale digital entertainment.
“One in every three Indians tuned in to watch the second semi-final. Delivering such an experience at scale requires the very best of technology,” he said.
The 619 million views during the match also eclipsed the 533 million views recorded during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
With the final yet to be played, the 2026 tournament has already set multiple benchmarks in audience reach and digital engagement.
India will face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
