Zee5 – Launched in 2018, ZEE5 remains owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL). It is one of India’s leading television and media entertainment companies. It is part of the Essel Group and remains headed by Subhash Chandra.
As opposed to the global focus of Disney+/Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix, ZEE5 trusts a localization strategy rooted in their strengths in regional language content to audiences distinguished by tiers of geographic location and expendable income.
Moreover, unlike internet television, which is distinct from linear television, ZEE5’s growth and digital expansion are integrally connected to its parent company, Zee TV, in how it utilizes the affordances offered by digital media culture.
The streaming platform is available via the web and a mobile application on iOS and Android platforms. In its expansion drive, ZEE5 targets audiences who may not be thoroughly familiar with or have limited knowledge of digital media formats. The underlying logic is to make the platform emulate the logic of broadcast television and use that as a hook to make users transition from broadcast to digital television.
ZEE5 caters to a clientele that moves between browsing regional language Indian television and film, Zee originals, live TV, news channels, music, kid’s content, games, and lifestyle content. Market reports indicate that ZEE5 aims to cultivate this demographic as a dedicated viewer base. ZEE5 has an advantage over other platforms because it has content procured by the various Zee subsidiaries.
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Internet Pricing and Availability
The platform’s popularity is also conditioned by its varied, flexible subscription plans, as what is often affordable is premised on the purchasing power of the users. While ZEE5’s premium yearly plan remains priced at ₹999, they also have a 30-day plan for ₹99, a 90-day plan for ₹299, and a 180-day plan for ₹599.
Premium users can watch videos on five different devices at one time. ZEE5 is available as a mobile app on Android and iOS platforms and accessible via web and smart TV brands that support the ZEE app out of the box. It currently has a subscriber base of 76.4 million. The monthly price of ₹ 99 for ZEE5 is less than the India-specific pricing for Netflix at ₹199, Amazon Prime at ₹ 129, and Disney+ Hotstar at ₹ 299.
ZEE5 has managed to work out a mutually beneficial relationship with other telecommunication providers. JioFiber, Reliance Jio’s high-speed internet service, offers ZEE5 bundled subscriptions to its customers. Similarly, ZEE5 also partnered with Tata Sky, an app-based platform, to offer its Premium content to Tata Sky users.
ZEE5 is available in 190 countries, except in the United States. It has a broad content library across 18 languages, including Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and Odia. Its entry into the United States remains restricted by its non-compete clause with Dish Network, which prevents it from launching a direct-to-customer service.
Top 10 Movies on Zee5
- Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
- Erin Brockovich (2000)
- Prathi Poovankozhi (2019)
- Viduthalai: Part I (2023)
- Gladiator (2000)
- Venom: The Last Dance (2024)
- Inside Man (2006)
- Hanu-Man (2024)
- RRR (2022)
- The Fall Guy (2024)
Top 10 TV Shows on Zee5
- Kumkum Bhagya
- Vasudha
- Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
- Bhagya Lakshmi
- Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye
- Jamai No. 1
- Kundali Bhagya
- Jagriti
- Trinayani
- Bas Itna Sa Khwaab