ZEE5 has announced the introduction of five curated, free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels on LG Channels, the streaming service available on LG Smart TVs in India, as it had promised last month.
The move signals a significant expansion of ZEE5’s footprint in the Connected TV (CTV) market, providing LG Smart TV users with access to a wide range of content without the need for a subscription.
The five newly launched channels are designed to cater to diverse tastes and genres:
- Z Dil Se: Features content focused on drama and romance.
- Z Horror Nights: Showcases horror and supernatural programming.
- Z Comedy Nation: Offers classic comedy and family-oriented entertainment.
- Z Cine Classic: Curates nostalgic Hindi films from the 1980s and 1990s.
- Z South Flix: Presents popular South Indian films dubbed in Hindi.
The content for these channels is sourced from Zee’s extensive library, which spans over three decades of intellectual property. This existing content has been repackaged into linear, genre-specific channels tailored for the lean-back viewing experience typical of CTV audiences.
For owners of LG Smart TVs, the five ZEE5 channels are now available on the LG Channels platform. Access is streamlined, requiring no additional registration, application downloads, or payments. The channels can be found directly on the TV’s home screen, offering an integrated and seamless entertainment experience.
This collaboration is a strategic step for ZEE5, aimed at broadening its distribution and making its content library accessible to millions of LG Smart TV users. The new ZEE5 channels add to the LG Channels platform, which already offers over 110 channels across categories such as news, music, lifestyle, kids, infotainment, and general entertainment.
This partnership enhances the depth and variety of content available on the service. The move also aligns with the growing industry trend of FAST channels, which offer viewers free, ad-supported content in a traditional, linear television format on internet-connected devices.
Commenting on the launch, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said:
At ZEE5, we are constantly reimagining how entertainment is accessed in the digital age. Our FAST channel expansion to LG devices, featuring curated, genre-specific channels and backed by LG’s widespread presence in Indian homes, ensures seamless and free access to premium content tailored to every viewer preference. This stands as a testament to our focus on elevating Connected TV experiences. For brands, it creates a powerful opportunity to engage high-intent audiences in a premium, ad-supported environment.
Brian Jung- Director, Media Entertainment Solution, LG Electronics India Ltd., said:
At LG, we are committed to enhancing the in-home entertainment journey for our customers. The introduction of ZEE5’s premium channels reaffirm our vision of enriching LG Channels with culturally relevant, engaging and family-friendly content—all available free of cost to our users.