India’s 2025 Streaming Landscape: Special Ops S2 Soars, Netflix Leads Content Race
In a year defined by fierce competition and evolving viewer habits, JioHotstar’s espionage thriller Special Ops Season 2 emerged as India’s most-streamed original of 2025, drawing a massive 29.6 million viewers, according to Ormax Media’s annual audience report.
Produced by Friday Storytellers, the high-octane spy series outpaced a crowded field, securing the top spot in a list reflecting Indian audiences’ growing appetite for gripping narratives across platforms. JioHotstar reinforced its dominance with three titles in the Top 10 and four in the Top 11, including the legal drama Criminal Justice: A Family Matter at No. 2 (27.7 million viewers) and reality giant Bigg Boss (Hindi) Season 19 at No. 6 (20 million viewers).
However, Netflix claimed overall leadership by volume, placing 20 originals within the Top 50. Its marquee Indian series like The Ba***ds of Bollywood (16.7 million) and The Royals (15.5 million) performed strongly, while global hits such as Squid Game Season 3 (16.5 million) and Stranger Things Season 5 (16.4 million) retained solid Indian viewership.
Amazon Prime Video held its ground with premium offerings, led by The Family Man Season 3 (24.6 million) and Panchayat Season 4 (23.8 million). The platform also drew audiences with Paatal Lok Season 2 (16.8 million) and Suzhal – The Vortex Season 2 (8.3 million).
Notably, ad-supported platforms gained momentum. Amazon MX Player ranked third overall with Ek Badnaam Aashram Season 3 Part 2 (27.1 million), showcasing the rising influence of free streaming. The platform also performed well in reality with Rise and Fall (12 million) and Hip Hop India S2 (11.1 million).
SonyLIV entered the fray with Maharani Season 4 (10.6 million) and Shark Tank India S4 (10.3 million), signaling the continued relevance of niche platforms.
Netflix’s film slate also resonated, with Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins (13.1 million) and Dhoom Dhaam (12.1 million) among the top draws.
Ormax Media confirmed this would be its final standalone originals report. From 2026, the new Ormax StreamView platform will unify measurement across streaming, TV, films, sports, and news—reflecting how modern audiences no longer distinguish between “original” and “non-original” content.
“As viewer behavior evolves, so must our frameworks,” said Shailesh Kapoor, CEO of Ormax Media. “Ormax StreamView is the future of audience intelligence in India.”
