Movie Channels
Comcast may renew bid for 21st CF
MUMBAI: Is Brian Roberts playing party pooper? Or is he really serious? The Comcast CEO is believed to be still making eyes at 21st Century Fox assets, according to a report by Wall Street Journal. The paper says he is reportedly mounting a renewed bid to acquire either all the entertainment properties of Fox or parts of it which might be of no interest to the mouse house.
In December 2017, both Rupert Murdoch and Disney’s Bob Iger had announced a colossal take over of 21st Century Fox’s TV, film studio, international pay TV assets for a sum of$52.4 billion. Roberts had reportedly been willing to pay $60 billion – about 15 per cent higher – but he did not get a serious shot at a deal.
The reason: an acquisition of Fox by Comcast would have not passed anti-trust and monopoly muster. Hence, the Murdochs preferred to go with Iger’s offer.
WSJ says it did not receive a response from either Fox or Disney and that Comcast may not really make a definitive offer to acquire the mouse house catch finally. Because he is awaiting a ruling on the AT&T-Time Warner antitrust suit that comes up for hearing on 19 March.
The Murdochs own 39 per cent in 21st Century Fox through a family trust. And the Disney deal saw the family retaining all the TV news assets of the Fox empire.
The two companies’ intent to deal is likely to take up to 18 months to accomplish, keeping in mind the regulatory hurdles it has to comply with.
Also Read :
Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion
Disney, 21st Century Fox, CNBC, James Murdoch, Star India
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.
