Movie Channels
HBO counter sues ‘Soprano’ lead Gandolfini for $100 mn
LOS ANGELES: The controversy between HBO and Soprano star James Gandolfini has just flared up. HBO is seeking to turn the tables on the star’s recently filed lawsuit by launching a suit of their own to the tune of $100 million. At the same time they are continuing to negotiate with him.
A Reuters report indicates that Gandolfini is looking to double his $400,000 per episode payout. HBO has dismissed the suit filed by Gandolfini as being frivolous. The HBO suit contends that Gandolfini’s representatives have been demanding increased compensation each year the contract was renewed. HBO has “given in” to such demands although the contract does not dictate so.
Last week Gandolfini sued the cable network and Sopranos Productions. He wanted his contract cancelled as the company failed to inform him that the series had been ordered for a fifth season.
Gandolfini’s contention is that as per the terms of the contract the show’s producers had a 10 day window to inform him after a deal was signed regarding his service requirement for the next season. He said that he learnt about the deal from the Wall Street Journal. HBO replied stating that the contract did not cover what was written in the WSJ.
HBO’s suit states that Gandolfini signed a contract with six optional years with the production company in 1997,
The Sopranos cast is due back in the studio to begin shooting its new episodes on 24 March, the day after the Oscar awards ceremony.
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.
