GECs
BSkyB hits eight million subscriber mark
MUMBAI: Leading British satellite platform BSkyB has crossed its target of achieving eight million subscribers by the end of this year, 2005.
In a media statement BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch stated, Sky is achieving strong growth. Nearly one in three homes have chosen Sky and we are especially well placed to broaden Sky’s appeal as entertainment and communications come together.
BSkyB, in which Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. owns 36.6 per cent, has also set a target of achieving 10 million subscribers by 2010, with 2.5 million of those taking its Sky+ personal video recorder service. The company is also aiming to have at least 3 million subscribers using its multiroom service, which allows more than one TV set in a home to be hooked up to Sky’s services.
Launched in 1999, the company provides free to air channels as well as pay TV channels. Murdoch noted that the company provides access to a number of free to air channels on the Freeview service as a way of promoting the pay-TV services available through its satellite service.
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.
