iWorld
Zee5 bolsters reach with Connect Broadband partnership
KOLKATA: The last few months have changed the way the world functions. Consumers are now looking at entertainment beyond the traditional DTH and cable TV. Since the pandemic, Zee5 has seen over 3X growth in its consumers. To enable easy access to OTT entertainment content, Zee5 has been working very closely with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the country. The streaming platform’s latest partnership is with Connect Broadband, one of the largest ISPs of Punjab.
Consumers today are demanding more options and value from their internet service providers. Through the alliance with Zee5, Connect Broadband will enable easy access to the platform to its consumers via simple add to bill instructions.
To get access to Zee5’s premium content, movies, and live channels, Connect broadband consumers need to validate their registered mobile number via OTP either on Connect BB website or via Connect BB mobile application.
Zee5 offers over 100+ originals across genres, apart from a vast library which has over 1.25 lakh hours of content across 12 languages that include popular TV shows and blockbuster movies spanning various genres and formats.
Zee5 India SVOD SVP and head Rahul Maroli said, “In a connected world, the role of ISPs is critical to connect the household to the world. The past few months have seen an increased demand for broadband internet as people turn to the internet for work, entertainment, and communication. The strategic alliance with Connect Broadband enables us to provide our bespoke entertainment experience to an even wider audience. With consumers now looking at digital platforms to fulfil their entertainment requirements, we wanted to ensure that consumers get a seamless experience with the best of content to choose from. The alliance will leverage Connect broadband’s reach and Zee5’s content and technology to deliver seamless entertainment to the entire Punjab region.”
Connect Broadband spokesperson said, “With massive surge in consumption of digital content Connect Broadband makes it simpler for customers to access rich content from Zee5 without having to worry about data. During such unprecedented times, we urge all the citizens to stay home and stay calm, while we continue to serve the best of entertainment content across languages, genres, and a spectrum of devices. Our partnership with Zee5 enables us to maximise our reach by appealing to a massive content for Connect Broadband consumers. With this proposition, we are enhancing our relationship and reach with our customers.”
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.
