iWorld
Nielsen crowns Bluey, Stranger Things at 2025 streaming awards
INDIA: Nielsen has unveiled the winners of its 2025 Artey Awards, marking a record-breaking year for streaming as audiences clocked an estimated 16.7 trillion minutes of viewing: a 19 per cent rise from 2024 and the highest on record.
Disney plus’s animated favourite Bluey claimed the top streaming title of the year for a second straight time with 45 billion viewing minutes, while Netflix’s Stranger Things emerged as the most-watched original series, drawing 40 billion minutes and helping the platform secure five category wins.
The inaugural Artey Award for streaming icon of the year went to Seth MacFarlane, whose extensive catalogue of television shows and films generated more than 60 billion viewing minutes across platforms in 2025. Nielsen said the honour recognises creators whose body of work consistently drives sustained audience engagement.
According to Nielsen’s streaming content ratings, the Artey Awards are based purely on audience viewing minutes across major platforms including Disney plus, HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount plus and Pluto TV.
Nielsen SVP product strategy Brian Fuhrer, said the awards reflect how rapidly streaming continues to reshape viewing habits, with both established hits and new entrants capturing audiences at scale.
MacFarlane’s long-running series Family Guy and American Dad! ranked among the most-watched adult animation titles of the year, while his films and newer shows added billions more minutes of streaming time across services including Hulu, Peacock and Fox-linked platforms.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
