iWorld
Over 10 mn paid for OTT video subscriptions in 2019: FICCI-EY report
MUMBAI: The Indian media and entertainment industry has moved beyond the era where consumers are not willing to pay for premium content online. Although the number of paying consumers remains low compared to overall users, the growth is visible, according to FICCI-EY 2020 report. In 2019, over 10 million subscribers paid for 21 million OTT video subscriptions for the first time. Overall digital subscription also grew over 100 per cent to reach Rs 29.2 billion.
Video subscription revenues grew 111 per cent in 2019 as premium content – originals and sports – went behind the paywall and amounts paid by telcos on behalf of their customers to content owners increased significantly. Audio subscription grew comparatively slower at 18 per cent in 2019 as platforms are still in the customer acquisition phase and several free products are available. However, the percentage of paying subscribers to total OTT consumers remained less than five per cent and one per cent for video and audio, respectively.
One of the key drivers for the growth of video subscription is a cricket-heavy 2019, with Hotstar creating an annual sports pack at Re 1 per day. The report also mentioned that increased television subscription prices due to the implementation of the NTO in February 2019 led to certain viewers, mainly English content viewers, preferring to subscribe to relatively more affordable OTT services. Moreover, over 1600 hours of original content were created for OTT platforms across films and episodic content, which led to increased demand.
There were several moderations in subscription packages also. Free/trial access to leading OTT platforms was provided by telcos and MSOs, bundled with data or television subscriptions, of between one and six months. Major players including Netflix introduced several sachet packs.
The entry of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc. boosted the growth of audio streaming subscription during 2019 along with increasing smartphone penetration in India. The number of music streamers has increased to 180-200 million from 150 million in 2018. However, paid subscribers remained below per cent, due to the prevalence of free options across all the large streaming platforms as well as music availability on YouTube.
The report predicts that overall digital subscriptions will grow at a CAGR of 30 per cent until 2022.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
