GECs
ASC’s Punit Goenka elected International Emmy board director
MUMBAI: The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS), New York has unanimously elected ASC Enterprises Ltd group president and CEO Punit Goenka as a director of the Academy.
Touted as the largest organisation of global broadcasters with members from 61 countries and over 250 companies, the Academy announced the appointment at a board meeting held in New York.
A release from Zee informs that Goenka received a letter from the IATAS president Bruce L Paisner confirming the appointment.
Beside informing Goenka about his appointment, the letter also comprises board’s advice on the International Emmy Award rules and regulations as well as the management of the organisation.
Goenka, currently responsible for launching India’s first DTH service under the brand name Dish TV, began his career in 1995 with the Essel Group.
Son of media mogul Subhash Chandra, Goenka has also been with ASC Enterprises Limited for over five years, previously as vice president co-ordination and operations, and now as the group president and CEO.
ASC Enterprises is a moving force behind ACL (Agrani Convergence Limited) a retail chain of choice for convergent TIME products and services (TIME: Telecommunications, Information, Learning, Media and Entertainment) and India’s largest Radio Trunking company.
Punit was also instrumental in launching Zee group’s Hindi music channel Zee Music.
As for IATAS, founded in 1969 to promote excellence in international television programming, the New York based Academy produces the iEmmys festival and International Emmy Awards. Held at New York city, in the month of November every year, the awards ceremony is established to recognise the best television programs produced.
The Academy foundation also oversees a number of professional educational programmes for the global television industry, says the release.
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.
