Zee5 is the streaming platform of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, one of India's largest broadcast groups. It carries the Zee TV library, Zee regional channels (Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Telugu, Zee Kannada, Zee Tamil), and original Zee5 content. For CTV advertisers, Zee5's primary value is regional language depth — it is the most comprehensive single platform for Marathi, Bengali, and Kannada content, and a strong option for Telugu and Tamil alongside SonyLIV. Its national Hindi audience is substantial but not a differentiator versus JioHotstar.
Regional language strength
Zee5 carries the full catalogues of Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Telugu, Zee Kannada, and Zee Tamil. This makes it the dominant AVOD destination for Marathi and Bengali content on CTV — languages where JioHotstar's content depth is thinner. For advertisers targeting Maharashtra (Marathi), West Bengal (Bengali), or Karnataka (Kannada) audiences specifically, Zee5 offers content adjacency that no other single India CTV platform can match.
Buying route
Zee5 CTV inventory is bought via direct deal through Zee Entertainment's digital ad sales team or a registered agency. There is no programmatic self-serve access. Minimum spends: Rs 2–5 lakh for standard campaigns. Zee5 uses SSAI, so third-party client-side verification is not available. Impression data is server-side reported.
Ad formats
Pre-roll (15 and 30 seconds, non-skippable) is the primary format. Mid-roll is available for long-form content. Pause ads are available. Custom brand integration options exist for large campaigns. Zee5 does not offer live sports overlays of the same scale as JioHotstar — its live content is primarily catch-up and originals rather than major live sports events.
CPM benchmarks (2025-26)
Zee5 standard pre-roll: Rs 60–180 CPM. Regional language adjacency (Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla) commands a 10–20% premium over run-of-network. Zee5 CPMs are the lowest among the major India AVOD platforms — reflecting its position as a regional depth play rather than a premium sports/entertainment destination. For regional campaigns, the relevant comparison is not Zee5 CPM vs JioHotstar CPM but Zee5 CPM vs the reach and content adjacency it provides for specific regional audiences.
When to include Zee5
Zee5 is most valuable for: regional language campaigns targeting Marathi, Bengali, or Kannada audiences; campaigns where regional content adjacency is part of the brand safety brief; and situations where budget does not allow JioHotstar minimums but direct-deal AVOD is preferred over YouTube CTV. It is not a primary India CTV buy for national campaigns — use JioHotstar and YouTube CTV first, add Zee5 for regional depth.