GECs
Casbaa appoints new V-P John Medeiros
MUMBAI: The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) has appointed John Medeiros as vice president for government relations and regulatory affairs.
Medeiros will be responsible for oversight of the association’s anti-piracy and regulatory activities across an Asia Pacific footprint covering 14 markets. He reports to Casbaa chief executive officer Simon Twiston Davies.
This new post is part of a significant expansion of the Association’s campaigns to counter piracy of pay-TV broadcasts and to advocate modern regulatory practices for the broadcasting industry, states an official release.
Medeiros joins Casbaa following an extensive career with the US government, most recently as deputy chief of Mission at the US embassy in Singapore and deputy US consul general in Hong Kong. With a dozen years experience in Asia, Medeiros’ responsibilities have included assisting media and telecommunications companies to overcome regulatory and anti-competitive barriers, such as piracy.
“The appointment of such an experienced executive as John Medeiros as our V-P for government relations and regulatory affairs further highlights Casbaa’s commitment to representing the pay-TV industry’s interests at the highest level possible. John’s experience in Asia made him the best possible candidate for this new Casbaa role,” said chairman Marcel Fenez.
“Given the range of underlying regulatory, market access and copyright issues faced by our member companies in jurisdictions such as Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea and India, this appointment is a significant step for the industry and the association.”
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.
