Movie Channels
Hallmarks ‘Sesame Street’ introduces HIV- Positive muppet to spread AIDS awareness
MUMBAI: Hallmark has announced that its kids show Sesame Street will introduce a HIVpositive Muppet. The as yet unnamed character will appear next month on Takalani Sesame which is the version of the kids’ show that airs in AIDS-ravaged South Africa. The newest Sesame Street Muppet will be brought to viewers by the letters H, I and V.
An official release informs that in South Africa an estimated one in nine people are infected with HIV. Sesame Street producer Joel Schneider announced the introduction of the HIV-positive Muppet, who does not yet have a name or a final design at this week’s 14th lnternational AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
He said, “There is no systemic education for children about the HIV virus and AIDS. They often receive a lot of misinformation. We know in South Africa, as well as in other places, the virus is a huge issue.” Some of those countries (among the 70 in which Sesame airs) where the new Muppet might also appear may include Russia and Mexico. It has not been clarified as to whether the character would also join Bert and Ernie in the American Sesame Street. The story about how the character contracted HIV is still under discussion, but it’s likely to involve a story line about a blood transfusion or transmission through childbirth.
Talking about the character of the muppet Schneider said: “We know that she’ll be lively, alert, friendly, outgoing and HIV positive. She’ll be healthy, not sickly. The aim is to help ‘destigmatise’ the virus among viewers of the programme, We want to show children that it’s okay to touch an HIV-positive person, okay to hug, that a person can still be a constructive part of the community.”
Sesame Street airs weekdays at 7 am and in the evening at 4 pm on the Hallmark Channel Kids Block.
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.
