GECs
Chrome Study: Colors, Amitabh most liked GEC channel, anchor among working individuals
BENGALURU: Colors is the most liked Hindi GEC channel among working individuals and KBC’s Amitabh Bachchan is the most liked anchor, according to a survey by Chrome Data & Analytics (Chrome) covering 1,957 working individuals in the HSM market.
The most preferred genre – in order of preference – 92 percent were hooked to GECs; 56 percent preferred movies; 52 percent were addicted to music; 44 percent followed news; 19 percent liked infotainment; 17 percent preferred sports; 12 percent preferred the kids’ genre and 5 percent preferred the lifestyle genre.
In terms of channels – in order of preference – 70 percent preferred Colors; 55 percent Sony Entertainment Television (SET); 53 percent preferred Star Plus; 41 percent preferred &TV; 37 percent preferred Zee TV and 31 percent preferred SAB TV.
In terms of favourite channel – for 38 percent Colors was a favourite channel while Star Plus was a favourite channel for 21 percent; 20 percent found Sony TV as their favourite channel; Zee TV was a favourite for 10 percent; &TV was a favourite channel for 7 percent and 4 percent of the respondents found SAB TV to be their favourite channel.
The Chrome study respondent universe was 22 percent in the age group of 15 to 20 years; 44 percent in the age group of 21 to 30 years; 27 percent in the age group of 31 to 50 and 7 percent that were 51 years old or more. 58 percent of the respondents were male and 42 percent were female.
Please refer to the six charts below for the favourite programmes and characters on favourite channels
Writers note: Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data for top 10 channels that is freely accessible in the public domain indicates that it is Zee TV and its sibling and free to air channel Zee Anmol that have been topping ratings in the Hindi GEC markets over the past few weeks. Correspondingly, Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya generally and consistently are amongst the top 5 GEC programmes in BARC’s weekly lists. In the case of reality television there is limited amount of BARC data available in the public domain. It may be noted that BARC data covers the entire HSM urban and rural market, while Chrome data is limited to working individuals in the HSM market.
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.








