Roku is one of the most popular streaming platforms in the United States, and it hosts a growing ecosystem of South Asian entertainment apps and services. U.S. viewers from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and other South Asian backgrounds can access live TV channels, on-demand movies, original series, and live cricket through a combination of dedicated apps and bundled services available via Roku devices. The landscape spans paid subscription platforms like Sling TV’s Desi packages, standalone apps like ZEE5 and YuppTV, and niche regional-language services like aha.
Sling TV — The Largest South Asian Bundle on Roku
Sling TV is the single most comprehensive provider of South Asian live TV on the Roku platform in the U.S. It offers multiple Desi-focused packages across 10+ languages, with content sourced from major Indian broadcasters including Disney Star, Sony, and Zee.
Sling TV South Asian Packages
| Package | Key Channels / Services | Price |
| Hindi | Aapka Colors, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Star Plus, Zee TV HD, &TV, SAB TV, Aaj Tak, India Today, Willow Cricket, Sony Mix | $34.99/mo |
| Hindi Mega | All Hindi channels plus 20+ additional channels including news, music, movies, and cricket | $49.99/mo |
| Desi Binge Plus | Willow HD, SonyLIV, Hotstar Specials, Jio Cinema, Simply South, and more | $15/mo ($10/mo first month) |
| Desi Binge | SonyLIV, Hotstar Specials, Jio Cinema, and more (on-demand focus) | $10/mo |
| Dakshin Flex | Willow HD, Simply South, Star On Demand — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada content | $10/mo |
| Dakshin Mega | Vijay TV, Asianet, Star Maa, Star Suvarna, SonyLIV, and more live South Indian channels | $25/mo ($12.50 first month) |
Sling TV Add-On Extras
Sling also offers regional language add-on packs that can be layered onto a base package:
- Punjabi Extra — PTC Punjabi, Alpha ETC Punjabi, Chardikla Time TV, Jus Punjabi ($10/mo)
- Gujarati Extra — TV9, Colors Gujarati, News18 Gujarati ($5/mo)
- Oriya Extra — Colors Oriya, OTV, Tarang, Zee Kalinga, and more ($5/mo)
- Hindi News Extra — India Today, Aaj Tak, Sahara Samay ($5/mo)
- Bangla Super — Star Jalsha, Star Jalsha Movies
- Marathi Pack — Star Pravah, Star Pravah Picture
Sling brought back Disney Star channels in 2023, adding 19 live channels and 150 hours of on-demand South Asian programming across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, and Kannada. Channels like Star Plus, Vijay TV, Asianet, Star Maa, Star Jalsha, Star Pravah, and Star Suvarna are included across various Sling packages.
Sling also provides Sling Freestream, which offers free Desi and U.S. news channels, Indian and Punjabi music, and global live news without any subscription.
ZEE5 — Standalone South Asian Streaming App on Roku
ZEE5 is the self-described “largest South Asian streaming platform” in the U.S. It launched in the U.S. in June 2021 and is available as a standalone app on Roku devices. The platform offers over 4,000+ movies, 500+ originals, and 2,500+ TV shows across 18 languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and more.
ZEE5 has introduced Add-ons in the U.S. market, aggregating multiple South Asian streaming platforms within a single app, including:
- Simply South (South Indian languages)
- OHO Gujarati (Gujarati content)
- Chaupal (Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Haryanvi)
- NammaFlix (Kannada)
- EPIC ON (Hindi)
- iStream (Malayalam)
Add-on pricing starts from $1.49. ZEE5’s annual U.S. subscription was initially priced at $84, with promotional pricing at $49.99. The ZEE5 app can be installed directly from the Roku Channel Store and activated via tv.zee5.com.
YuppTV — Pioneer of Indian Live TV on Roku
YuppTV was the first Indian live TV service on the Roku platform, debuting in 2010. After a period of absence in the U.S. and Canada (2012–2016), it made a comeback on Roku in 2016 with 200+ live TV channels, catch-up TV, and YuppFlix — one of the largest Bollywood and South Asian movie catalogues with more than 5,000 titles.
YuppTV supports content in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Sinhala, Urdu, and Nepali. It is available on Roku streaming players, Roku Streaming Stick, and Roku TV models. Pricing starts at $14.99/month, with 3-month ($29.99), 6-month ($44.99), and 12-month ($64.99) plans available.
SonyLIV — Via Sling TV on Roku
SonyLIV, a premium streaming platform offering Hindi, Tamil, and other Indian-language content along with live cricket and international sports, does not have a standalone official app on Roku. However, U.S. viewers can access SonyLIV content through Sling TV’s Desi packages on Roku:
- As part of the Desi Binge ($10/mo) and Desi Binge Plus ($15/mo) packages
- As a standalone SonyLIV subscription through Sling for $7.99/mo
SonyLIV on Sling offers unlimited access to web originals and new OTT releases in the U.S.. The app provides on-demand content including Indian dramas, movies, and live cricket coverage.
aha — Telugu and Tamil Content on Roku
aha is a regional South Asian OTT platform focused exclusively on Telugu and Tamil content. It is available as an app in the Roku Channel Store. The platform offers movies, original web series, reality shows, and classic films.
aha’s services are primarily geared toward Indian users, and content may be geo-restricted outside India, requiring a VPN for access in the U.S.. However, the app itself can be downloaded from the Roku Store for free, with premium subscriptions available.
Willow TV — Live Cricket on Roku
Willow TV is the go-to cricket channel for South Asian audiences in North America, airing live and recorded matches from ICC tournaments, IPL, and other international cricket events. On Roku, Willow is primarily accessible via Sling TV’s Desi packages:
- Included in Desi Binge Plus, Dakshin Flex, Hindi, Hindi Mega, and other South Asian packages
- Can also be added via the Cricket Mini extra for subscribers on other Sling plans
In 2024, Sling also launched Willow Sports, a free ad-supported channel available through select free-tier platforms like Fubo and the Free Live Sports app.
Other Notable Channels and Apps
Mobil Free South Asian TV
A free app available in the Roku Channel Store offering South Asian content at no cost. It appears across multiple Roku Store listings and provides a basic free-tier South Asian viewing experience.
Einthusan
Einthusan offers approximately 4,000 licensed South Asian films across 9 regional languages including Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, and Punjabi. It provides free ad-supported viewing and an ad-free subscription for $25 (3 years). However, Einthusan does not have an official Roku app and can only be accessed via screen mirroring from Android, iOS, or PC devices.
Zee Family TV
Zee Family TV launched on Roku with over 30 live 24/7 channels in English, Hindi, and regional languages, 30-day catch-up, 2,000+ on-demand movies, and 15,000+ show episodes. The app features Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Z Living, and other Zee network channels.
Hotstar / Disney+
The standalone Hotstar app in the U.S. was shut down in November 2021, and its content migrated to Hulu and ESPN+. However, Hotstar Specials and on-demand Hotstar content remain accessible in the U.S. through Sling TV’s Desi packages on Roku.
Platform Comparison
| App/Service | Roku App? | Content Type | Languages | Starting Price |
| Sling TV (Desi Packages) | Yes | Live TV, on-demand, cricket | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Oriya | $10/mo |
| ZEE5 | Yes (via activation) | Movies, originals, TV shows | 18 languages | ~$49.99/yr (launch offer) |
| YuppTV | Yes | 200+ live channels, movies | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Sinhala, Urdu, Nepali | $14.99/mo |
| SonyLIV | Via Sling only | Originals, sports, movies | Hindi, Tamil, and more | $7.99/mo (Sling) |
| aha | Yes | Movies, series | Telugu, Tamil | ₹99/mo (India-focused) |
| Willow TV | Via Sling | Live cricket, highlights | English | Included in Sling Desi packs |
| Zee Family TV | Yes | 30+ live channels, VOD | Hindi, English, regional | Free download |
| Mobil Free South Asian TV | Yes | Free South Asian content | Multiple | Free |
| Einthusan | No (screen mirror) | 4,000+ movies | 9 languages | Free (ads) / $25 for 3 yrs |
How to Access South Asian Content on Roku
- Navigate to the Roku Channel Store (Streaming Channels on the home screen)
- Search for specific apps by name (e.g., “Sling TV,” “ZEE5,” “YuppTV,” “aha”)
- Browse the International category in the Roku Channel Store for curated South Asian apps
- Install and activate — most apps require account creation and subscription purchase via a web browser before content becomes accessible on the Roku device
- Screen mirroring is available for platforms without native Roku apps (like Einthusan or the direct SonyLIV app), using Android, iOS, or Windows casting features
Conclusion
The South Asian streaming ecosystem on Roku in the U.S. is anchored by Sling TV, which functions as the largest aggregator of live Indian TV channels and on-demand content through its multiple Desi packages. For viewers who prefer standalone apps, ZEE5 and YuppTV offer extensive libraries directly on Roku. Cricket fans can access Willow TV through Sling, while regional-language viewers have options like aha (Telugu/Tamil) and Zee Family TV. While some platforms like SonyLIV and Einthusan lack direct Roku apps, they remain accessible through Sling bundles or screen mirroring respectively. The market continues to grow, with ZEE5’s Add-on strategy consolidating multiple niche South Asian platforms into a single interface for U.S. diaspora audiences.
