GECs
‘Antakshari’ takes a pause after epic nine-year run
MUMBAI: After Amanat, it is the turn of the pioneering Antakshari on Zee to bid au revoir to viewers. The competitive song based show that catapulted Annu Kapoor to fresh heights of popularity since its inception in 1993, aired its 485th and final episode for the current run at 8 pm yesterday.
As Zee unleashes a slew of new shows, led by the bold Love Marriage, the brutally frank Kittie Party and the bolder still Lipstick slated for release this week, old timers like Antakshari and Amanat are having to make way for the new lot. But Gajendra Singh, the creator of this trendsetter show, asserts that the show will be back in a revamped avatar in the next six months. The same anchor team of Annu Kapoor and Pallavi Joshi will host the show, but the presentation and mode of participation will be drastically different, says Singh.
Singh, in the meantime, is focusing on another musical show, Yeh Voice Aapki Choice for Zee that will be anchored by singer Shankar Mahadevan and will air in three months’ time. Antakshari wound up the current season with a celebrity guest in the form of former film star Jeetendra who symbolizes the evergreen nature of the Antakshari concept, says Singh.
The original game show, co-anchored by Kapoor along with a string of successive hostesses that included Durga Jasraj, Renuka Shahane, Shefali, Raajeshwari Sachdeva and Pallavi Joshi, will have Joshi as hostess in the new round too.
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.
