Movie Channels
24 has attracted youngsters to TV: Anil Kapoor
KOLKATA: Whether it’s on the social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, or applauds from the Hollywood counterparts, Anil Kapoor’s Hindi adaptation of the international TV series, 24 has been received quite well.
Basking in the glory of his debut television production, the actor on Wednesday said that the biggest achievement of the thriller is that it has managed to hook youngsters. “The best thing is that youngsters who never used to watch TV are hooked to it. They have something to watch now. Even men have something to watch on TV besides the family soaps. I have heard that women and kids also like it,” said Anil while addressing reporters.
“Usually my family is divided in opinion when it comes to my ventures. There is groupism in my family, but everybody loves 24,” added the 56-year-old, who was last seen in films like Shootout At Wadala and Race 2.
Directed by Abhinay Deo, 24 airs on Colors on Friday and Saturday. In the show, Anil plays the lead role of Jai Singh Rathod, the chief of an anti-terrorist unit. The show captures 24-hours of Rathod’s life where he struggles to prevent the assassination of a prime ministerial candidate and also save his daughter and wife who have been kidnapped by terrorists.
Anil cleared the air about the show being adapted to the big screen saying he had only the rights to the TV format.
When he was quizzed about not foraying on television earlier, Anil said, “I had been offered to judge reality shows, but I didn’t feel good enough. However, with 24, it felt like my calling. I have never been scared of failure and I thought the maximum that could happen was the show wouldn’t work,” he said.
On a lighter note, he expressed how he wanted the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who recently announced his retirement plans from Test cricket, to continue playing cricket for the rest of his life. “I wish he could go on and on for life, but Test cricket is a physical sport, and gradually youngsters have to take over. The demands are tough on the body,” he said.
Movie Channels
Zee5 launches five free FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus India
New genre-led channels bring comedy, drama, horror, classics and South films to Smart TVs.
MUMBAI: Zee5 just turned Samsung Smart TVs into a free entertainment buffet because when premium content costs nothing, even the remote control starts smiling. Zee5 has launched five curated free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus India, making high-quality, genre-specific entertainment available subscription-free to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners across the country.
The five channels now live are:
Zee Comedy Nation – Popular comedy shows and movies
Zee Dil Se – Compelling drama series
ZEE Horror Nights – Horror and supernatural content
ZEE Cine Classic – Timeless Indian films
ZEE South Flix – High-energy South Indian films dubbed in Hindi
All content is drawn from Zee5’s extensive library and programmed in a lean-back, always-on format ideal for large-screen viewing. This launch strengthens Zee5’s Connected TV strategy at a time when 64 per cent of its premium content watch time already comes from connected devices.
Zee5 chief business officer Siju Prabhakaran said, “At Zee5, we believe accessibility and scale will define the next phase of digital entertainment growth in India. Our presence on Samsung TV Plus strengthens our Connected TV strategy, enabling viewers to discover curated, genre-led content in a seamless, free, and premium environment.”
Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta added, “Local partnerships are at the heart of how we grow Samsung TV Plus in India. Zee Entertainment is one of India’s most iconic media brands, and bringing their channels to our service means millions more Samsung Smart TV owners can enjoy premium local content, subscription-free.”
The channels are available directly through the pre-installed Samsung TV Plus app with no login or subscription required. This marks another milestone in Zee5’s CTV expansion and builds on its growing international presence, with Zee channels already available on Samsung TV Plus across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a streaming world where paywalls often block the fun, Zee5 and Samsung have quietly opened the gates, proving that sometimes the best things in life (and on your TV) really are free especially when they come with a side of comedy, drama, horror, classics and South Indian blockbuster energy.
