Movie Channels
UTV Movies International now in Canada
MUMBAI: To take the entertainment quotient a notch higher, Disney India has taken its 24 hour Hindi movie channel – UTV Movies International to Canada. The channel that was launched on 17 July in Canada aims at drawing the audiences together to share their universal passion for Bollywood.
While UTV Movies International was launched first on Bell Fibe, it is also available across key platforms in Canada. And now, to take a step further to ensure better reach, the channel will be distributed through Asian Television Network (ATN).
According to Disney India VP – revenues, media networks Nikhil Gandhi, Canada is a very important market for the network as it has a large South Asian diaspora who are looking for fresh and distinctive Hindi movie content. He said, “UTV Movies has been consistently engaging with audiences in India and internationally. With the UTV Movies International channel launch in Canada, we are further expanding our footprint in the international markets and are extremely excited to work with Canada’s largest television broadcaster – Asian Television Network.”
“We are very pleased to be associated with UTV Movies International,” said ATN president and CEO Dr Shan Chandrasekar. “Bollywood is one of the most loved genres in the country and the audiences here have a special connect with Hindi films. ATN has been responsible in bringing a range of specialty channels to the diverse audiences in Canada and UTV Movies International is a great addition to our network.” he added.
Over the past five years, UTV Movies International has addressed the viewer’s approach of looking to television for uninhibited entertainment, instantly gratifying them with a direct experience of the spirit of Bollywood.
The channel, currently present in 26 countries, has been engaging with audiences in key regions such as USA, Middle East and Africa along with countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. UTV Movies International also has a presence in the United Kingdom under the name of UMP Movies.
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.
