GECs
BBC World News Horizons returns to explore ‘Carmageddon’
Mumbai: In the third series of Horizons, Adam Shaw travels to Detroit to meet Ford Motors executive chairman Bill Ford Jr to discuss his vision for mass mobility and the revolution that is needed to prevent global gridlock or what some are calling, ‘Carmageddon’.
As the world’s population increases and the number of people living in cities rises, it will become more difficult to move around our urban areas.
Bill Ford Jr said: “We see global gridlock as an issue of human rights, not just one tied to business and economics. If I think of our mission at Ford, we started off making cars and then we became a car and truck company, but really we’re a mobility company. And if we think of ourselves as that, and I do, then that opens up lots of possibilities. If we do nothing today, that mobility will be severely compromised in the future.”
The programme then heads to Volvo in Sweden where they are developing driverless vehicles. Using radars, lasers and high-specification computers, the idea is to integrate a suite of technologies that can detect pedestrians, and allow cars to cruise at speed in convoys.
In Shanghai, reporter James Chau looks at how China’s largest metropolis moves millions of people around the growing mega-city and how authorities are trying to get people out of their cars. James also takes a trip on the Shanghai Metro to see how one of China’s most efficient and extensive public transport networks runs.
James also visits the Hongqiao Transportation Hub, one of the first transport hubs in the world to integrate air, high speed rail, metro and road under one roof, all within a ten minute walk of each another. Known as one of the world’s largest interchanges, Hongqiao deals with more than a million passengers a day. With numbers expected to grow rapidly, James explores the operations of the hub and how it is dealing with the rising numbers.
The Horizons series, sponsored by DuPont, airs weekly on Saturdays at 7.00am and 2.00pm, Sundays at 8.00pm. The sponsorship arrangement was facilitated by BBC Advertising, which sells advertising and sponsorship solutions on behalf of BBC World News and bbc.com.
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.
