GECs
B4U’s Neeraj Arora joins rival Set Asia as VP international business
MUMBAI: B4U’s head of international business Neeraj Arora has switched over to rival Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia).
Arora, who was senior vice-president international business development at B4U, has joined SET Asia as vice-president for international business.
SET Asia’s international business executive vice-president Rajan Singh announced the appointment yesterday.
Althought the UK cable frat has been abuzz with the rumours about Arora’s likely move to Sony since the last week of July, both SET Asia and B4U had been non-commital on the issue till yesterday.
Commenting on Arora’s appointment Singh offers, “Neeraj is a seasoned TV executive who truly understands the nature of the international South Asian pay-TV sector. He is very well equipped to deal with the demands of a very competitive environment and I m sure that with him on board our international business will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Arora will now be responsible for SET Asias operations outside of the Indian subcontinent and will report directly to Singh.
Based in London, he will oversee sales, marketing and distribution efforts in over 100 countries around the world with responsibility for major operations in the UK and Europe, Africa, North America, the Middle East and Australasia.
Prior to his appointment at SET Asia, Arora was B4U Network’s senior vice president for international business development and was primarily responsible for the channels European, Middle Eastern and African operations.
Arora had been with B4U since it launched in 1999 along with SET Asia as a subscription based network in the UK. He was the highest ranking executive at B4U, which is London-based.
Before this, Arora was employed at Zee Network where he was responsible for the channels distribution and marketing in the UK and Europe and also oversaw the channels migration from analogue to digital satellite.
A native of Allahabad, India, Arora now lives in Middlesex with his wife and two children. He holds a BA degree from the University of Allahabad in Economics, Philosophy and Social Sciences.
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.
