GECs
CinemaNow Japan initiates pay-per-view movie service with Warner Brothers
MUMBAI: CinemaNow Japan Inc., a joint venture between CinemaNow Inc., Tokyo-based Transcosmos and Microsoft, has announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. International Television to make movies available for download via its Web site (www.cinemanow.jp) on a pay-per-view and subscription basis.
“This groundbreaking agreement is a great accomplishment for CinemaNow Japan and will deliver a first-of-its-kind service to the burgeoning Japanese market,” CinemaNow CEO and chairman of CinemaNow Japan Curt Marvis says. “It marks another major step forward in CinemaNow’s mission to build a truly global distribution network that reaches localized markets.”
As part of the agreement, Warner Bros. International Television will offer hit titles like Ocean’s Twelve and Constantine, as well as library titles ranging from Rebel Without a Cause to the original Batman movie. These titles will be available via CinemaNow Japan’s unique subscription service, which offers any user with a broadband Internet connection the ability to download films on an unlimited basis and watch them anytime, anywhere, for as long as they are a subscriber, states an official release.
“Leveraging CinemaNow’s unmatched operational experience, technical expertise, and growing content portfolio, CinemaNow Japan was able to quickly establish itself as a leading online video-on-demand service,” said Toshiyuki Tomii, president of CinemaNow Japan. “With the addition of Warner Bros. International Televisions content, CinemaNow Japan will offer its broadband users a high-quality, easy-to-use, on-demand entertainment experience that is unmatched in the marketplace.”
CinemaNow Japan’s new monthly subscription option will also offer access to hundreds of videos in total for only 1,480 Yen ($12). In addition, users can choose to download and watch any of the videos on a pay-per-view basis for as low as 250 Yen ($2) per film for 48 hours access, the release adds.
GECs
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
