iWorld
79% Indians prefer bundling of streaming services: Amdocs-Vanson Bourne Survey
Mumbai: Amdocs, software and services provider to communications and media companies, on Wednesday, released the findings of its latest Streamer 2021 report which surveyed 1,000 consumers in India about their streaming and subscription services preferences. The data revealed the respondents’ inclination towards mega bundles comprising content and communications services.
According to the report, 76 per cent of all surveyed consumers expect to add to their current subscriptions video streaming services, wellness and e-health, and e-learning services, in that order of preference. Consumers have explored the vast array of content and services available to them, discovering that there are plenty of offerings that stretch beyond the satellite/cable and video streaming status-quo.
When asked how their live and on-demand consumption habits are set to change compared to the last 12 months, over two-thirds (69 per cent) of consumers expect the overall time spent on it to increase in the next six months from the current average of 14 hours per week.
Customers are also showing high levels of interest in mega bundles comprising content and communication services: The next generation of bundles will still allow consumers to control key aspects such as subscription management, with user settings being controlled centrally for an added level of privacy. Just under four-fifths of respondents (79 per cent) would be interested in a bundle of video streaming, entertainment, and communication services, followed by multiple video streaming services (73 per cent), and video streaming and communication services (72 per cent).
Quality of content is a major loyalty driver (71 per cent), which trumps even attractive prices (45 per cent).
Customers want to create their own content package. The call for a packaged bundle continues, even as most customers cite that they would prefer to create and pay for a content package that is limited to content that they are interested in versus paying more for access to the provider’s entire library. This is most likely to be the case for consumers if they can pick content that can be accessed across video streaming services (69 per cent), satellite/cable (67 per cent), music streaming services (61 per cent), and gaming (55 per cent).
Customers also shared that if they could create a ‘perfect’ bundle of their subscriptions, they would be most likely to pay more to include on-demand binge-worthy TV series (56 per cent), all games for one specific sporting team (49 per cent), virtual classes/training (46 per cent) and fitness classes with a ‘celebrity’ trainer (45 per cent).
“The pandemic has led to increased consumption of media and entertainment services,” said Amdocs Media GM and chief commercial officer, Raman Abrol. “Availability of multiple streaming options under one roof has resonated well with the comfort levels of consumers who are confined at home and on the lookout for new means of entertainment. As we know that the customer is the king, this is an exciting opportunity for service providers to give them the option to bundle their services where they can access all their media and entertainment subscriptions in one place.”
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.
