Movie Channels
Sony PIX aims 20 per cent market share by 2014 in English movie space
KOLKATA: Hollywood movie channel Sony PIX is looking to increase its market share to 20 per cent by the end of the current year 2014 in the Hollywood movie channel space from the present 18 per cent by strengthening its content.
“Our aim is to grow our share and take it upwards to around 20 per cent by the end of 2014. In terms of viewership, the company has a market share of 18 per cent,” said Sony PIX EVP & Business Head Saurabh Yagnik, while announcing two initiatives – premieres of four big movies back to back and Pix Premiere Nights with the latest movie, Robocop in Kolkata, on Friday.
“In 2013, we were consistent and maintained the second position, we even banged Star Movies occasionally from number one spot,” he said.
On being asked the strategies to achieve this target, he said that the channel would focus on strengthening its content, while being innovative and relevant. “We are evaluating for other tie ups for content,” Yagnik said as he said that the channel plans to pump in more money to acquire content.
When asked about the channel’s penetration in the Kolkata market, he said Sony Pix’s market share was 22 per cent in 2013, more than its average pan India share as people in WB are more inclined towards English movie channels.
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.
