Movie Channels
Productions to begin again?
MUMBAI: It’s not confirmed yet. But sources revealed to indantelevision.com that efforts are on to get TV and other productions kickstarted again. This is even as prime minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of the lockdown till 3 May this morning and a stricter enforcementof Covid2019 restrictions over the coming week. Timelines when the greensignal to resume production have not been revealed as yet, but broadcasters, producers and the government seem to be getting on the same page and a date is expected to be announced.
When they do start, it is proposed that they will do so with heavy security ensuring temperature screening and regular checks, minimum cast and crew in lower double digit numbers, limited camera unit staff, with adequate social distancing, daily sanitation of the sets, an ambulance on standby, masks, gloves and hand sanitisers being used at all times, less lavish sequences, avoiding casting and hiring elderly cast and crew and few props.
Sources share that the content production sector has incurred losses running into thousands of crores since the outbreak of the pandemic. Producers have been at loose ends and have been requesting landlords to waive off rentals for studios where they have their sets standing. Broadcasters normally fund the productions, but with no fresh programming available for nearly a month now, they have been losing ad revenues. To top it all, there are the thousands of unionised crew who have seen their earnings vanish and if this continues for long, it could end up being even more problematic.
A lawyer working closely with the production sector said that unless this is resolved, litigation could be the order of the day.
Hence, producers, broadcasters, unions and the Maharashtra government are currently working on drawing up new measures that will have to be followed without any exception.
Please keep visiting indiantelevision.com to get further updates.
(Updated at 10:30 am on 14 April 2020)
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.
