GECs
Chandra confident of bagging India rights
NEW DELHI: “I don’t expect anything otherwise (than getting the India cricket telecast rights),” is how Zee Telefilms CMD chooses to put it when queried about the continuing suspense around the issue.
As things stand currently, the announcement by the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) as to who gets the live television and radio broadcast rights for international cricket to be played in India for the next four years, is expected to be made after the BCCI’s crucial working committee meeting in Kolkata on 5 September. This is when board supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya will announce whether it is highest bidder Zee or highest “legitimate” bidder ESPN Star Sports (as the sports broadcaster describes itself) that gets to keep the most coveted prize on Indian broadcaster television today.
Queried as to whether Zee had sent in the clarifications sought by the BCCI (the reason Dalmiya had given for not awarding the rights at the working committee meeting of 17 August), Chandra had this to say: “I have no information of the BCCI seeking any clarification from Zee Telefilms as of now.”
Chandra also sought to play down reports of Turner International Asia Pacific, an AOL Time Warner group company, having made a proposal for jointly floating a global sports channel. “It is just an exploratory letter that has come to us from Time Warner so I cannot comment on the matter at the moment,” Chandra said.
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.
