Category: Press Release

  • “Masti aur hungame ki poori guarantee” with the World Television Premiere of Coolie No.1 on Zee Cinema

    “Masti aur hungame ki poori guarantee” with the World Television Premiere of Coolie No.1 on Zee Cinema

    This Sunday, be prepared for hassi, masti aur hungama as Zee Cinema brings to you the World television Premiere of Coolie No.1. The magic of David Dhawan movies, peppy music and unmatched comedy make it a light-hearted film which is a fun-watch for the whole family. This multi-starrer movie is packed with the impressive performances by an energetic Varun Dhawan, the dazzling Sara Ali Khan, and some of the biggest superstars of all time like Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Rajpal Yadav, along with Shikha Talsania and Sahil Vaid in pivotal roles. So, stay home, stay safe and catch the World Television Premiere of the super family entertainer Coolie No.1 on Zee Cinema on Sunday, 25th April at 12 noon.

    Coolie No. 1, the perfect summer movie to watch with the whole family, promises and delivers the complete entertainment package. Fans of every age would love the youthful chemistry of the lead pair along with the fine-tuned brilliance of the veteran comedy actors. It’s the right balance of twists, timings and fun that will max-out the smiles and laughter in your home.

    Directed by David Dhawan, Coolie No.1 is a story about the comedy of errors. When the matchmaker, Pandit Jai Kishen is insulted by a rich businessman – Jeffrey Rozario, he decides to teach him a lesson and get even by getting his daughter married to Raju – a Coolie posing as a millionaire. However, the trail of lies starts to go out of hand leading to humorous situations. 

    This Sunday, entertainment hoga No.1 with the World Television Premiere of Coolie No.1 on Zee Cinema on 25th April at 12 noon!

  • Forget 4K! HDR Is The New Buzzword

    Forget 4K! HDR Is The New Buzzword

    There was a time when TVs used to sell solely based on resolution. We started with 480px, then went on to HD Ready, Full HD, 4K and now we even have 8K TVs available in the market. So, does looking at resolution alone help you buy the best television with outstanding visuals? Not exactly. If resolution is all about the quantity of pixels, HDR is about the quality. And as with everything else, quality is more important than quantity!

    What is HDR?

    Dynamic Range essentially refers to the range of contrast and colour palette that the TV is capable of displaying. In HDR TV this dynamic range is more and hence each pixel can display a wider colour range of varying brightness, which in turns reflects a higher contrast ratio.

    A 4K TV with HDR has vivid, bright and colourful visuals that are close to real life. As it has a better contrast ratio, blacks appear darker and whites appear lighter and the various gradients of colours are clearly visible. This ensures even minute details are clear and not lost. Combine this with the local dimming technology available in higher end TVs and you get outstanding clarity even in dark scenes.

    In order to enjoy outstandingly vivid and colourful visuals, your TV should be HDR compatible and so should the content you see. Videos available on Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Hotstar and such VOD apps are HDR compatible. But the cable TV content is not. 

    HDR TV Formats

    When you buy a 4K TV, don’t choose one just because it is HDR compatible. More importantly, look at the HDR formats it support. HDR 10 is the base standard, while Dolby Vision is the gold standard available predominantly in high-end TVs from LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense etc. Samsung supports HDR10+ content- a format it developed in collaboration with other companies. In their attempt to promote HDR10+, even high end 4K TVs from Samsung don’t support Dolby Vision. 

    Now, let us take a look at the different HDR formats in detail.

    HDR 10- As mentioned, it is the base standard. A TV that is HDR 10 compatible will be able to display 1 billion colours and has a maximum brightness of 1000 nits and colour depth of 10 bits. It is an open format and hence it is not enforced by anyone. So, if a manufacturer says his TV is HDR 10 compatible, you have to take his word for it. 

    HDR 10 contents are static. This means, the color calibration is set for a movie or a show. But in Dolby Vision, this is set per frame.

    Dolby Vision- As this format is licensed by Dolby, you can rest assured that if a TV’s specifications say Dolby Vision compatible, it will be so in actuality. As mentioned earlier, the calibration in terms of colour, contrast and brightness can be set frame by frame.

    Dolby Vision content can be mastered to display 68 billion colours and peak brightness of 10,000 nits. But at present, the displays are not capable of showing such bright content.

    As it can support such a wide palette of colours, what you see on TV will be exactly as what the director of the show or movie intended. 

    HDR 10+ content has a peak brightness of 4000 nits. It was developed by a consortium of Samsung, Panasonic and 20th Century Fox. It is definitely better than HDR10, but not quite there when compared with Dolby Vision.

    HLG is HDR for cable TV. Unfortunately, in India, we don’t get HLG content from our broadcasters.

    What To Buy?

    If you are a videophile who enjoys crisp, clear and vivid visuals, and if your budget permits, buy a 4K TV that is Dolby Vision compatible. Or else, at least opt for a Samsung TV that is HDR10+ compatible.

    But if you are someone who can’t really distinguish between HD ready, Full HD and 4K content visually, then, you needn’t give much focus on these aspects and would be better off buying a budget friendly Full HD or 4K TV of desired size.

  • New To Insurance? Keep These 5 Things In Mind While Purchasing Life Insurance

    New To Insurance? Keep These 5 Things In Mind While Purchasing Life Insurance

    Nothing can be better than a happy and healthy family that supports you throughout your life in every possible way. And, to reciprocate the love and acre, you would want to keep them financially protected. This is where buying life insurance ensures financial protection for your family, when you are not around to take care of them. 

    Generally, life insurance is a contract between the insurance provider and the policyholder. Here, the insurance company provides an assured sum to the insured’s family for the premiums paid over the years. 

    A picture containing person

Description automatically generated

    Image Source: Shutterstock

    During such situations, it is difficult for the family to manage emotional and financial stress together. Therefore, it is vital to make fund arrangements for your family to help them keep away from financial stress. 

    You can even opt for life insurance plans such as Term plans, health insurance and ULIPs, etc. There are several benefits that a life insurance plan provides such as:

    a)    Financial security and Peace of mind

    b)    Wealth creation, depending on the plan you choose

    c)    Flexibility of choosing an appropriate plan

    d)    Tax benefits up to a certain limit 

    e)    Death benefits to the insured’s family

    f)    Different Rider Options

    Before choosing life insurance in India, it is essential to know about the different types of life insurance plans available, to make an appropriate decision in tandem with your financial goals. Below mentioned are the types:

    1.    Term Insurance Plan

    It is an affordable type of life insurance that provides the assured sum at the end of the tenure. You will need to pay insurance premiums for a particular period at regular intervals. With such insurance, the nominee is eligible for receiving the amount in case of your untimely demise. 

    2.    ULIPs (Unit Linked Insurance Plan)

    ULIPs are a type of life insurance that provides dual-benefit of investment and life insurance coverage. A part of your amount is invested in market-linked securities like debt, equity, etc., which might be a good source of passive income. Similarly, it also provides a life coverage, in case anything unfortunate happens to you.

    3.    Child Insurance Plans

    This is also a saving cum investment insurance plan that helps meet your child’s financial needs when he/she grows up, such as their education expenses, dream to study abroad, marriage, etc,. 

    4.    Endowment Plan

    An endowment plan provides savings benefit along with life coverage. If anything unexpected happens to you during the tenure, the nominee will get the assured sum; if you outlive the tenure, you will receive the amount.

    5.    Retirement Plans

    It is similar to the endowment policy. If you survive the tenure, you can enjoy financial independence during your old age, or otherwise, your nominee will receive the amount.

    A person using a computer

Description automatically generated with medium confidence
    Image Source: Shutterstock

    After knowing what is life insurance and its types, you should consider a few parameters to buy appropriate life insurance in India according to your financial goals and needs. A few of them below:

    1.    Coverage Requirements

    You need to assess your long-term financial needs and existing assets and liabilities to decide the amount of coverage your family might require in the future. Despite of being financially sound, it is advisable to buy life insurance, to avoid financial difficulties that might arise in the future.

    2.    Tenure of the Policy

    Depending on the age bracket in which you fall, you can decide the length of tenure. It is advisable to start investing at a young age because usually, the premium amount is quite reasonable. 

    In addition, if you invest this amount for a longer period of time, your family will be eligible for receiving a larger corpus of the fund if anything happens to you. If you start investing at a later stage, you might have to pay a higher premium amount.

    3.    Rider Options

    A basic life insurance policy has certain exclusions. To compensate them, you can buy various rider options like critical illness rider with a basic life insurance plan to cover maximum diseases. The number of illnesses covered and other benefits vary across different providers.
    4.    Compare Plans, their Benefits and Charges

    You should always compare various insurance plans, their benefits and associated charges across various insurance providers using an investment calculator. The one that provides maximum benefits in the premium amount you can afford and levies minimum charges should be preferred. The associated charges might include administration charges, fund management charges, mortality charges, etc. 

    5.    Tax Saving Options

    You can save a fair amount of tax if you invest in life insurance wisely. Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 includes provisions for such deductions in detail. The upper limit of premium payments to avail such deductions is Rs. 1.5 lakhs per annum.

    After estimating and comparing the different types of life insurance, you can choose an appropriate life insurance plan depending on your financial goals. It is preferable to choose credible Insurance providers like Max Life Insurance, who have transparent terms and conditions, and provides maximum benefits possible depending on the premium amount. The investors can be worry-free about the return on investments and the claim disbursal in case of emergency. 
    Begin investing today to have a better tomorrow!

  • Star Movies brings alive the magic of Hollywood with #HollywoodUnlimited

    Star Movies brings alive the magic of Hollywood with #HollywoodUnlimited

    As the Red Carpet is unfurled and India waits with bated breath to see if we finally bring home an Oscar statuette after almost 2 decades, Star Movies is amping up the excitement with a novel Instagram campaign #HollywoodUnlimited featuring super-talented and gorgeous Elisha Kriis. As a countdown to the awards, Indian beauty, Elisha will walk us through riveting unknown facts about Hollywood with videos ultimately culminating to a Instagram live session on April 24th, 2021 at 7:30 pm.

    Watch the campaign unravel with these 2 links:
    Star Movies India – 
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CN5Q1HPB3o3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CN5DCZrh-Jm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Through the campaign, Star Movies aims to keep up with the Oscars momentum while deepening awareness about Hollywood in its true essence. The mega live will take viewers on Hollywood tour like never before covering iconic and must visited locations like The TCL Chinese Theatre, The Dolby Theatre, The Hollywood Walk of Fame and others.

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity that will reveal some interesting and exciting facts. Join Star Movies and @elishakriis on this journey exclusively on April 24, 2021 at 7:30 pm.

    Home to the Oscars in India for over 2 decades, the 93rd Academy Awards will be telecasted live on Star Movies and  Star World at 5:30 am and repeated at 8:30 pm on Monday, April 26, 2021.

  • Sony BBC Earth launches ‘Earth Champions’, an initiative to celebrate real life Earth heroes

    Sony BBC Earth launches ‘Earth Champions’, an initiative to celebrate real life Earth heroes

    MUMBAI: Love for the Earth has been the central theme of all of Sony BBC Earth’s programming and marketing initiatives. The channel has always brought stories – in the form of landmark natural history shows like Blue Planet II, Climate Change: The Facts and A Perfect Planet, among others – from around the globe that not only deeply connect the viewers with the natural world but also sensitize them about the importance of sustainability.

    Now with its latest IP Earth Champions, Sony BBC Earth is bringing to light stories of real-life heroes who are making this planet a better place with their relentless efforts and daily action. Through this property, the channel aims to inspire others to follow the steps of these ‘Earth Champions’ towards a greener and a more sustainable world.

    Starting off as a digital property which will be promoted on-air and on social media, Earth Champions’ first guest is UN Environment Programme’s Champions of the Earth awardee – Afroz Shah, who will be in conversation with the host and Earth lover Tara Sharma on Earth Day – 22 April – at 7PM. Afroz will talk about his journey, about organizing ‘Biggest Beach Clean-up in World History’, about being recognized by the Honorable PM of India – Narendra Modi, and about continuing the cleaning till the oceans are made plastic and filth free.

    From renowned environmentalists and nature enthusiasts to climate warriors and commoners from all walks of life, Earth Champions aims to bring to light the power of individual actions that can collectively become a force of positive change and action. Creating conversations is key to raising awareness and hence Sony BBC Earth plans to recognize and celebrate an Earth Champion every month and thereby encourage others to make sustainable choices in their everyday living.

    Tune-in to Sony BBC Earth’s Instagram page (@SonyBBCEarth) to watch the LIVE conversation between host Tara Sharma and #EarthChampion Afroz Shah on Earth Day – 22 April at 7PM. And stay tuned for more conversations with other Earth Champions each month.
     
    Sony Pictures Networks India English cluster Marketing Head Rohan Jain said, “Sony BBC Earth has always championed for positive storytelling and inspiring ideas via its programming and marketing properties. Earth Champions is another such initiative and a seamless extension of our previous brand IP Young Earth Champions. It is backed with an intent to recognize and celebrate real-life heroes who are driving positive change of action via their relentless efforts in the space of sustainability. We are happy to support these Earth heroes and via them enlighten more people on the benefits of collective action”.

  • Sony Pix emerges as the #1 English movie channel in FY 21

    Sony Pix emerges as the #1 English movie channel in FY 21

    MUMBAI: With the financial year 20-21 ending, Sony Pix (SD + HD) has managed to garner 23 percent viewership share. A combination of a library of popular movies, blockbuster premieres and deeper engagement with the customers has propelled the channel to the top position.  The year 2020 was known for many firsts and  SPNI’s English movie channel Sony Pix took this opportunity to continue to innovate and grow backed by many programming and marketing initiatives.

     Apart from premiering blockbuster Hollywood movies like Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, The Secret Life of Pets 2, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Cold Pursuit and more, Sony Pix’s library also hosts some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises like Fast & Furious, The Mummy, Jurassic Park, among others. Such stupendous titles have made Sony Pix the most watched channel in the category – overall as well as during primetime- with highest time spent per viewer*. The channel’s dominance is also reflected in the fact that in the last eight weeks, six out of top ten movie airings in the English movie category were aired from Sony Pix’s library.

    This move has also helped the channel (Sony Pix SD+HD) register a +86 per cent growth in viewership share (vs. FY20), making it the fastest growing English movie channel. Owing to this the channel has managed to gain #1 position on HD feed with a strong share of 31 per cent**. Even in terms of reach and time spent, Sony Pix HD is the undisputed leader**.

    With renewed zest to continue to entertain the viewers with the biggest Hollywood premieres, franchises, marathons and specially curated programming properties, Sony Pix is looking forward to another year of amazement.

    Sony Pictures Networks India English Cluster business head Tushar Shah said,“Last year was not easy, however, to come out not just stronger but also as the leading English movie channel fills our heart with joy. We are grateful to our viewers for their unwavering love and support and have renewed faith in our strategy of placing the consumer first. We are ready to face the new year head-on with a promise to keep entertaining Sony Pix fans with the best of Hollywood blockbusters and movie festivals”.

    * Source: BARC, Market: 10L+, TG: NCCS 15-40 AB, Period: WK 14’2020 – 13’2021, Average Weekly AMA & ATS (viewer), English Movie Channels SD+HD

    ** Source: BARC, Market: 10L+, TG: NCCS 15-40 AB, Period: WK 14’2020 – 13’2021, Average Weekly AMA, ATS (viewer) & Cume Rch’000, English Movie Channel HD

    *** Source: BARC, Market: 10L+, TG: NCCS 15-40 AB, Period: WK 14’2020 – 13’2021, Time bands: 19:00-24:00, Average Weekly AMA, English Movie Channels SD+HD

    **** Source: BARC, Market: 10L+, TG: NCCS 15+ AB, Period: WK 6-13’2021, AMA, English Movie Channels SD

  • Sony Pictures Networks joins hands with SayTrees for a greener planet

    Sony Pictures Networks joins hands with SayTrees for a greener planet

    As part of its CSR commitment, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has partnered with the NGO, SayTrees, to support afforestation efforts. Together SPN and SayTrees have planted over 8000 native varieties of tree saplings through the dense afforestation method in three acres of land in the drought prone Satara district of Maharashtra which will soon grow and become a natural canopy cover. The project focuses on environmental sustainability and improving quality of life by tackling climate change.

    The collaboration with SayTrees amplifies Sony Pictures Networks India’s effort to advance the cause of environment protection and further sensitise others on the importance of conservation by nurturing the planet. This afforestation project will ensure that each sapling planted gets unique and individual attention by providing a well-planned location to foster the growth of trees and preserve the environment.

  • Enter a den of crime with BBC World Service’s ‘The Lazarus Heist’ podcast

    Enter a den of crime with BBC World Service’s ‘The Lazarus Heist’ podcast

    NEW DELHI: BBC World Service is making its presence felt in the podcast domain with an original true crime series, The Lazarus Heist. It tells the true story of an attempted $1 billion hack, which investigators say was carried out by a secretive ring of elite North Korean hackers. While it could be the plot of a Hollywood movie, this dangerous group of hackers caused worldwide panic that was only too real.

    Nicknamed the Lazarus Group, they broke into the digital vaults of Bangladesh Bank (the country’s central bank), waiting a year before they carried out their attack. They laundered money around the world – including through casinos in the Philippines. It’s claimed they were trying to bring huge amounts of money back to Kim Jong-un’s secretive state.

    Before then, they are accused of being behind the hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment – exposing emails between employees, salary details and plans for new movies. It cost Sony $15m and its co-chairperson her job. This is a story of alleged state-sponsored hacking and theft on a truly global scale. North Korea says it “has nothing to do at all” with cyber threats or money laundering and says the accusations are American attempts to tarnish its image.

    The Lazarus Heist is presented by cybercrime investigative journalist Geoff White and Pulitzer-nominated veteran foreign correspondent and world renowned North Korea expert Jean Lee. White has been investigating the underworld of digital crime for years, while Lee has extensive experience of reporting from inside North Korea.

    This major new release will initially run for 10 episodes, released weekly. The Lazarus Heist is available on BBC Sounds and on most other podcast apps around the world. Episode one is released on 19 April 2021. Visualised episodes will be available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel.

    The BBC produces some of the world’s most popular and acclaimed podcasts, including three of the top ten most-listened-to shows around the globe.

  • Fever Network launched ‘Project Plasma’ – An initiative to encourage Plasma donation in the fight against COVID-19

    Fever Network launched ‘Project Plasma’ – An initiative to encourage Plasma donation in the fight against COVID-19

    As the new wave of COVID-19 grips India, we’re all fighting a tough battle to stay safe and help the ones in need. The front line workers, specifically the doctors & the hospital staff have been working day in & day out to provide the best medical care to the patients. As the daily virus infections cross 2,00,000, the Indian hospitals battle a chaotic surge.

    In the wake of the on-going crisis, Fever FM has launched ‘Project Plasma’ – an initiative to encourage plasma donation in the fight against COVID-19. Those who have recovered from this deadly virus have a Superpower of donating their plasma and helping someone to overcome the disease. The campaign urges all these Superheroes to use their power and help save a life.

    ‘Project Plasma’ is a combined initiative between Fever FM & HT City. Those who are willing to donate can get in touch with the Fever team at 8800570768 who will connect them with the patients at the respective hospitals. Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, ex-cricketer Venkatesh Prasad & Dr. Aseem Tiwari, Director Transfusion Medicine at Medanta joined hands in the campaign, urging people to come forward and actively donate Plasma.

    Urging people to become a part of the initiative, Shikhar Dhawan said, “Lots of people today are struggling to save their loved ones. If you have recovered against COVID-19 then you have a Superpower. Don’t let it go waste! Get in touch with Fever FM’s team to donate plasma and earn blessings!” Ex-cricketer Venkatesh Prasad said, “My most memorable performance in cricket has been against our arch rivals Pakistan, I was fortunate enough to pull out my team to a win during the difficult time. Today, we all have such an opportunity to pull out our countrymen out of the challenge. Thousands of our fellow Indians are down with corona. But if you have recovered from it, you have a superpower to save a life by donating plasma. Get in touch with Fever FM’s Project Plasma and help beat corona with positivity.”

    Fever FM has always stood at the helm of CSR, launching multiple initiatives over the years to spread hope and positivity. Talking about the campaign, Ramesh Menon, CEO – Radio and Entertainment, HT Media Ltd and Next Mediaworks Ltd. said “Our country is going through a critical time. At this moment it is paramount that each of us do the best that we can to defeat the virus and emerge victorious. I urge everyone who has recovered from COVID-19 to come forward and actively donate plasma. You one step could save a life and bring happiness to a family. Let’s all stand united and beat the virus during this difficult time.”

  • Zee Tamil launches its latest fiction show Chithiram Pesuthadi

    Zee Tamil launches its latest fiction show Chithiram Pesuthadi

    MUMBAI:  Zee Tamil is known for its thought-provoking and compelling narratives which have gone on to become notable television classics. The channel is now set to launch yet another fiction show, to strengthen its original content in the afternoon time-band. The show will reflect Zee Tamil’s commitment towards progressive storytelling amplified by notable cast selections and a talented team of technicians.

    Chithiram Pesuthadi is a progressive social drama delivering a strong message that a daughter is equal to a son in every way. The women-centric narrative of the serial attempts to break down gender stereotypes and shape the way society thinks about women’s rights and gender equality. The show will be telecasted on weekdays, from Monday to Saturday at 2:30 PM, only on Zee Tamil and Zee Tamil HD. Audiences can also enjoy the show at their leisure anytime on Zee5.

    Set in late 90’s when female infanticide was still prevalent, the show follows the journey of Thangmayil – a hardworking and aspirational girl who aims to become an IPS officer to make her father realize the wrong he committed in rejecting her at birth. The character’s journey towards achieving this feat forms the crux of the story. The show can be viewed as an ode to the strong women of the 80’s and 90’s both in the reel world of television and the real world of gradual social transformation. Through its novel approach, Chithiram Pesuthadi aims to break the shackles of discrimination against women and present an inspiring story that has the power to shift perceptions and bring in a change of heart.

    The stellar cast which includes Deepika.R as Thangmayil, Shiv Sathish as Jeeva, Baboos Baburaj as Gurumoorthy and Jeyashree as Gomathi among others, is sure to leave a lasting impression on the viewers with their performances.

    ZeeL EVP & south cluster head Siju Prabhakaran said, “Inspired by the society around us, Chithiram Pesuthadi is a carefully crafted tale aimed at entertaining viewers while throwing light on a women’s fight against the attitudes and roles imposed by society as she seizes every opportunity to prove them wrong. Through these compelling narratives, our goal is to go a step further in bridging the gap between reel and real, in a way that brings out a positive change in the world.”