Movie Channels
Indian film industry to target 5% of global market share
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has set a target of over five per cent from the present two per cent for as the global share of the Indian film market in 2007.
I and B Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told the India chapter of the US-Asia Business Forum at its inauguration here today that there are plans to strengthen and further develop the film industry in India. He said that the five core groups set up for the purpose are expected to submit their recommendations shortly and necessary action will be initiated after that.
Steps are also under consideration to increase the global visibility and acceptability of Indian cinema, including increased presence at various film festivals like Cannes. Dasmunsi added that in order to improve the quality of film scripts, plans are afoot to upgrade two film training institutes. He said censorship is still needed in films though filmmakers enjoy considerable freedom in the treatment of their subjects.
Though China is presently ahead of India in the economic sense, the minister said he was hopeful of matching up to any developed country by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan. He felt that the business fora can act as a facilitating agent in further developing Indian interests abroad.
Dasmunsi said India and the United States have also agreed to advance mutually beneficial bilateral trade and investment flows by holding a high-level public-private investment summits and continuing with the efforts to facilitate and promote foreign direct investment and eliminate impediments to it.
Chairman of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations RK Dhawan said India has gained visibility and recognition as a high-quality, low-cost production and research and development destination. The Government’s inclination towards reforms has also created an investment friendly atmosphere. India can be used as a base for third country exports and also targeting Indian consumers. A total of 237 SEZs have already been approved and 51 of them have been notified, he added.
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.
