GECs
Insat 4A placed in near-geosynchronous orbit
MUMBAI: Insat 4A telecommunications satellite has been successfully placed in near-geosynchronous orbit by Indian space scientists. The deployment of solar panels and two antennas have been completed.
The spacecraft has been placed in near-Geosynchronous orbit in the third and final orbit-raising operation conducted yesterday from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka.
The Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on board the satellite was fired for a duration of five minutes 45 seconds to enable it to achieve an orbital period of 23 hours and 54 minutes.
The satellite is presently located at 78.1 deg E and is drifting towards its final orbital position of 83 deg E. The satellite would be arrested at 81.5 degree E to carry out in-orbit testing of the payloads.
The satellite had about 1,690 kg of propellant at the time of its launch on board an Ariane rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana, and 1,154 kg of propellant was used for three orbit-raising manoeuvres.
The remaining 536 kg of propellant available in the satellite is sufficient for maintaining the satellite orbit and orientation for its designed life of 12 years.
GECs
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
