GECs
Al-Jazeera International ropes in Stephen Cole
MUMBAI: BBC’s well-known anchor Stephen Cole will be joining the Middle Eastern television company Al-Jazeera for its forthcoming English-language news and current affairs channel — Al-Jazeera International. Stephen Cole will anchor from the London broadcast centre.
Cole was associated with BBC News 24 and BBC World as senior anchor. He also hosted the BBC’s Click Online programme, 6 O’Clock and Ten O’Clock bulletins. He was previously associated with Sky News, CNN, and ITN. Earlier this year, Al-Jazeera International had roped in television host, author and producer Sir David Frost and also CNN’s Riz Khan.
Cole will be Al Jazeera International’s main male news anchor in their London news broadcast centre, one of the channel’s four regional broadcast centres – the others are in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington DC.
Al Jazeera International’s London bureau chief, Sue Phillips said, “I am delighted that Stephen is joining the team here in London. He brings a wealth of international broadcasting experience and will help us to offer viewers around the world a fresh perspective on global news.”
Stephen was recently elected to The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and will be hosting the Royal Television Society Technology Awards on December 8th. He has written and presented the Oscars Special Show for BBC World and BBC News 24 for the past five 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.
