Movie Channels
MSM gets ready to max it with MAX 2
MUMBAI: Its good news for movie buffs as Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) long awaited plan to launch one more movie channel is rolling along fine. And the unveiling of the new service is likely to be once both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and elections are wrapped up and done.
Multi-system operators (MSOs) say they have been approached by the Sony Entertainment Network (led by TheOneAlliance team) to keep aside space on their networks for two channels by May-end- early-June.
One of these according to MSOs is the movie channel which has been christened as MAX 2 while the other a GEC has not yet been given a name. The GEC is likely to work as a third flanking GEC to both Sony and SAB. And the management is introducing it to take advantage of the monetisation opportunities digitisation is expected to bring with it.
Star India has in recent times been hyperactive by re-launching its Star Sports services under different brands like 1,2,3,4 and also flagging off Life OK to help absorb advertising inventory which cannot be absorbed by the market leader Star Plus. Ditto with Zee TV which has introduced &pictures while Colors debuted Rishtey India. Sony which has relatively been playing low-key was expected to up the ante and its impetus to launch new services such as the two channels is only expected.
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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.
