GECs
Star confident that operators will accept new subscription rates
Reports of a concerted backlash from across the country to the 1 March increase in Star’s subscription rates appeared unlikely on Monday, with company officials confident that most cable operators would accept the Rs 30 monthly price tag on the Star bouquet.
However, reports that the Cable Sena of Maharashtra had scheduled a meeting for tomorrow (Tuesday) could not be confirmed. The Cable Sena is affiliated to the Shiv Sena, the party in opposition in the western state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located.
Senior Star officials said except for Calcutta and a few pockets, over 80 per cent of the rest of the country had accepted the new rate structure. There were some reports that operators in six districts in southern Karnataka were planning to black out Star from the 15th but that has been sorted out, the officials said. The problem actually related to mode of payment rather than anything else, it was pointed out.
But 30 cable network owners of north Chhattisgarh region of India are firm in their resolve to black out Star. The have vowed to remove all channels of the Star bouquet because the channel had “revised it’s subscription fees twice in the current year.” A statement put out by the operators said: “Moreover all cable operators are angry with the marketing policy of the Star TV as they were forced to subscribe to Star Gold channel by the dealers of Star TV, which is a costly channel with no ratings at all.”
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.
