GECs
Apurva Purohit to head Times TV project
MUMBAI: Apurva Purohit, the soon to be former employee of the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms, is joining the Times Group as head of its television project.
Purohit is currently serving out her notice following her resignation as Zee TV president last month and has her last day at the office on 31 January.
When contacted by indiantelevision.com Purohit said, “The final details would be known when I reach there. But my repsonsibilities would include charting out positioning of the entertainment channel(s), detailing the distribution aspects and other things that go to make a TV channel a reality.”
Though Purohit was not ready to spelll out the details, Times sources that as the COO of the TV venture, she would be responsible for more than one channel – one entertainment and one news channel, initially. Purohit, who’ll be reporting to Bennet, Coleman & Co. Ltd. executive director Arun Arora, also did not spell out a time frame for the launch of the proposed channel(s).
“Those things would become clear once I join formally,” she added. Though Purohit’s notice period at Zee Telefilms runs through January till the 31st, industry sources indicated that she’s trying to work out a deal whereby Subhash Chandra’s company lets go of her before the deadline so that she’d get some time off before she plunges headlong again into the media business, probably, from February.
According to the information available with indiantelevision.com, Times Group managing director Vineet Jain is quite gung ho about the TV project and has reportedly pushed the effort into high gear. Some alliance with a UK-based broadcaster is also being talked about in this regard.
A management graduate from IIM Bangalore, Purohit has been in the advertising and media business for nigh on 17 years. She joined Zee in mid-June 2002 from FCB Ulka’s media unit Lodestar where she was media director. Starting with client servicing, Purohit crossed over to media planning in the mid-90s.
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.
