Movie Channels
HBO premieres its ‘Original Movies’
What is surprising really is that the Turner Broadcasting-promoted premium movie channel took so long to leverage its own movies. After more than two years in the subcontinent, HBO announced a new initiative premiering next Monday and running through till September – HBO Original Movies.
The next five months will see an original HBO film being showcased on the first Monday of every month at 9:30 pm. It may be recalled that last year HBO telecast its 10-part epic series Band of Brothers but the difference here was these were not movies.
HBO has been producing highly acclaimed films since May 1983. Over the years, HBO Pictures emerged as a dominant force in the made-for-television movie category at the annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Popular amongst HBO Original Productions are Sex And The City and Six Feet Under both of which have won numerous awards.
HBO’s initiative comes at a time when rival Star Movies has reasserted itself among Indian viewers – first with the live telecast of the Oscars in March and subsequently with the double premiere of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park 1 and 2 that garnered monster ratings.
Kicking off the HBO Original Movies series in May is John Irvin’s World War II film When Trumpets Fade. The film stars Ron Eldard (of Black Hawk Dawn fame).
HBO original productions include movies, series, documentaries, comedy, music, family shows, sports specials. Under HBO films, the network is producing a broad slate of original movies, from smaller-budget independents to major motion pictures, touching on a wide range of provocative and entertaining subjects – characteristics that have become the hallmark of HBO’s original movies, to appeal to new and different audiences, an official release states.
Currently HBO produces an average of six original films and eight original series per year.
Chris Albrecht, President, HBO Original Programming said: “The HBO Original Movies are of exceptionally high standard, award winning productions, boasting of star-studded casts that are exclusive to the channel. Our shows must have a compelling point of view that deal with some depth about the human condition…”
James P. Marturano, managing director, HBO South Asia, said: “HBO Original productions are a strong differentiator for the channel to create extra value for our viewers since these are programs that are not released theatrically and premiere exclusively on HBO channel.
The other films included in this package are: In June comes Shot Through The Heart, a true story on the Bosnian conflict.
In July is Gia, starring Angelina Jolie. Gia is the biopic of Gia Carangi, who became a supermodel at the age of 18 and died of AIDS in 1986 following heroine and cocaine abuse.
In August there is Truman about US President Harry S. Truman.
In September, the HBO Original Movies will culminate in a block, which will be the HBO Original Movie-Emmys stunt.
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.
