iWorld
ZEE5 global reports 75 per cent rise in CTV viewing among US South Asian audience
Mumbai: ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, has revealed significant growth in both engagement and viewership in the United States on connected TVs. The business has reported over a 150 per cent increase in its connected TV user base and a 75 per cent jump in viewership for this segment over the year driven significantly by 4K content launches and an increasingly personalised and improved user interface.
The platform has recently shared a first-ever look into viewership trends of South Asian and South Asian content in the US, pointing to a 35 per cent y-o-y increase in content consumption over 2022 and a 46 per cent growth in watch time of original content.
Driving the Connected TV growth are Smart TVs, Google TVs, and Amazon Fire TV, among which the Amazon Fire TV registered the highest growth in consumption in the last year, closely followed by Smart TVs
ZEE5 Originals like Maya Bazar – For Sale, Vyavastha, and Abar Proloy, as well as blockbuster movies like Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, and Tarla are the most-watched titles in their respective categories. More than 83 per cent of the viewership of movies, in fact, is seen on connected devices,
TV shows have also continued to keep viewers hooked constituting a significant share of content watched on connected TVs, with the category witnessing a three times y-o-y increase in viewership. Hindi, Telugu, Bangla, and Marathi TV shows were the most watched with viewership peaking on weekdays, particularly on Thursdays and Wednesdays. Legacy titles, such as “Kundali Bhagya,” “Bhagya Lakshmi,” and “Kumkum Bhagya,” account for a significant portion of the content watched.
Leading these trends was the city of San Jose. Data reveals the city to be the highest consumer of content on connected devices in the US, with close to a two-times increase in users.
ZEE5 Global chief business officer Archana Anand said, “We are thrilled to see the rapid growth in viewership in the US and how well our content has resonated with a diverse South Asian audience. Connected TVs have seen the highest increase in viewership in the last year especially on the back of our 4K content launches, becoming the preferred choice for viewers who seek a larger-than-life content experience while watching our rich library and blockbuster movies. We are committed to meeting the evolving preferences of our viewers by bringing them a seamless and enriching entertainment experience on the devices of their choice.”
As a special limited-time offer, users opting for the monthly pack can apply coupon code FIFTYZEE5 to avail 50 per cent off on their first month.
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.
