GECs
Chris Rock to rock Oscar Awards
MUMBAI: In a bid to make the Academy Awards more fun and relevant to a younger demographic, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) has announced that comedian Chris Rock will host the 77th edition.
The show will air live on Star Movies, early in the morning, on 28 February 2005. The awards will be broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
Producer Gil Cates added, “I am a huge fan of Chris Rock. He always makes me laugh and he always has something interesting to say. Chris represents the best of the new generation of comics. Having him host the Oscars is terrific. I can’t wait.”
Rock made his screen debut in Beverly Hills Cop II and became a comic to watch when he spent three years on the cast of Saturday Night Live. His transformation into a comic cultural force, though, came with a series of HBO specials, including 1996’s Bring the Pain.
Rock currently is shooting The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler and recently provided the voice of the zebra in the animated feature Madagascar. Both films will be released in May 2005. He has also starred in Head of State, Bad Company, Neil LaBute’s black comedy Nurse Betty and Dogma.
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.
