GECs
After Trendz, Zee to add more channels to bouquet
NEW DELHI: Zee Telefilms today announced the launch of Trendz, a 24-hour fashion and style channel from 1 May (reported first by indiantelevision.com on Friday). Subhash Chandra’s network plans to add more such channels to the Zee Turner bouquet, the aim being to be able to offer viewers of its DTH service something extra.
“We are definitely looking at adding some more channels to the bouquet,” Zee Turner chief executive Sunil Khanna said today at a press conference to announce the launch of Trendz, a “global brand that is being built by Zee.”
According to Khanna, who is slated to head the DTH initiative of Zee, the group has also decided to get more recent titles for Zee MGM and build up the brand rather than introduce a new movie brand, something that was talked about after HBO moved out of the Zee Turner bouquet to One Alliance.
Khanna also sounded confident that the group’s proposed DTH service should be up and running by July-August. “The work on the infrastructure is going on (at Noida on the outskirts of Delhi from where the Zee channels uplink) and we hope to be on air by August,” he said.
Khanna also said that over the next few days Zee would be signing a letter of intent with a vendor for the subscriber management system for CAS and DTH.
Meanwhile, the international programming for Trendz – that would be 100 per cent to begin with – has been sourced from Video Fashion Network of the US and over a period of time Indian content too would be introduced, Khanna said.
Can it be India’s answer to FTV? Well nobody at Zee is ready to hold forth on this, but the success of FTV – controversies surrounding it notwithstanding – even in India, probably, could be a reason behind investing ina fashion and style channel.
“Given the channel focus and the opportunity that conditional access and DTH will open up for niche channels like Trendz, we are confident that it will emerge a leading source of infotainment for the fashion conscious Indian audience,” Zee Telefilms director Deb Naganand said.
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.
