Movie Channels
Not just on Netflix, ‘Army of the Dead’ to be previewed in select theatres
MUMBAI: Netflix's latest movie Army of the Dead, directed by Zack Snyder, will have its preview in select theatres before it gets streamed on the OTT platform on 21 May 2021. Even though the streaming giant has not made an official announcement, media reports state that Netflix has decided to screen the movie in a limited number of theatres.
However, considering the progress of the Covid2019 pandemic in India, it is still unclear whether these plans will materialise. Due to the second wave of infections ripping through the country, cinema halls have been directed to function at 30 per cent occupancy.
Army of the Dead marks Zack Snyder's second outing in the zombie genre. The Justice League director made his debut in 2004 with the cult zombie film Dawn of the Dead. Expectations surrounding Army of the Dead have already reached sky high, with Forbes stating in a recent report that the $90 million-budgeted, R-rated zombie heist film may determine the future of Netflix releases in theatres post the pandemic.
Army of the Dead will narrate the story of a mercenary team who plot a heist on a Las Vegas casino during a zombie outbreak. The film stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo and Garret Dillahunt in lead roles. Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi will also be seen essaying a pivotal role.
Snyder's previous release was Zack Snyder's Justice League, the director’s cut version of the 2017 superhero flick. The film, upon its screening on HBO Max, received positive responses from audiences and critics. In India, the Snyder cut premiered on BookMyShow Stream, the company’s pay-per-view platform in India. The ticketing site revealed that it had sold over 70,000 streams for the film within the first few days.
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.
