iWorld
4K streaming explodes on Zee5 with Hyderabad leading the charge
Mumbai: Zee5, India’s premier home-grown video streaming platform, has released compelling data on the dramatic rise in viewership trends from July 2023 to July 2024. The report reveals an increasing appetite for premium-quality streaming, particularly in 4K, as regional content and diverse genres captivate audiences nationwide. In a noteworthy milestone, Hyderabad has emerged as India’s largest hub for 4K streaming, underscoring the rapid digital transformation and growing demand for quality streaming experiences. Tier-two and three cities have shown a strong viewership growth as well, illustrating India’s evolving entertainment landscape.
According to Zee5’s data, 2024 witnessed a sharp rise in 4K streaming, with South India reporting a 278 per cent surge and North India leading with a 310 per cent increase in 4K viewership, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Tier-two and three markets now account for 40 per cent of Zee5’s overall viewership, while non-Hindi language content—primarily Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada—has grown to contribute 50 per cent of the platform’s total consumption. Cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi dominate content consumption among metros.
Viewership trends further reveal a marked 25 per cent annual increase in the average time spent per user. A significant 65 per cent of users are watching movies via connected devices, reflecting a shift towards in-home cinema experiences. Drama and romance continue to be the platform’s leading genres, with South Indian viewers contributing substantially to the popularity of these categories. Over the past year, Zee5’s titles have accumulated 85 billion minutes of watch time, with dramas drawing an astounding 105 million hours and action-thriller titles capturing 32 million hours.
Commenting on these trends, Zee5 chief business officer, Manish Kalra noted, “In the last one year, we have released several titles within our post-theatrical and original content library. The audience has spent a total of 85 billion minutes from July 2023 – July 2024 on the platform, with viewership coming in from multiple audience cohorts and geographies. With the vision of being the portal of choice for billions of viewers, we will continue to bring diverse and engaging content, with a prime focus on quality storytelling. It has been a good year for us. Our titles have received great reception from audiences not just in India but also from the global diaspora. Staying true to our commitment to bring best-in-class entertainment to our viewers, Zee5 will continue to partner with the best talents in the creative ecosystem, enhance viewing experience further, and bring forth stories that delight, engage, and entertain.”
Highlighting the platform’s top-performing titles, Zee5’s report ranks “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai” as the most-watched direct-to-digital movie, while the original series Taj led in overall viewership for original content. Other popular titles include Mrs Undercover, Gadar 2, and The Kerala Story, underscoring Zee5’s commitment to offering diverse and high-quality storytelling.
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
