GECs
Coke’s Amit Jain appointed MTV India managing director
MUMBAI: MTV India took its time at finding a replacement but finally the anouncement has been made.
Amit Jain, vice-president, regional operations Coke India is joining MTV India as managing director and executive vice-president MTV Networks Asia, directly filling the vacancy left after Alex Kuruvilla’s sudden departure at the end of June.
Jain joins the company on 1 January 2006 and will be responsible for leading the business and creative development across all the MTV brands in India, while seeking out new opportunities to grow the business in the region.
All division heads in MTV India and general Managers of Nick and Vh1 will report to Amit Jain.
“India is a strategic priority for MTVN and we are excited to have Amit, with his tremendous track record in a highly competitive youth market, to take our business to the next level,” says MTVN International president Bill Roedy.
“India’s vibrant, diverse cultures provide the perfect complement to the MTVN brands, which celebrate and reflect local creativity, while also providing the best in international content, ” adds Roedy.
Commenting on his appointment, Jain said, “I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the talented MTV Networks team in India. With three strong brands – MTV, Nick and Vh1 – MTV Networks India is uniquely placed in the television entertainment domain and I look forward to the excitement of driving these brands further on their growth curves.”
Jain will report directly to the MTV Networks Asia Pacific president Frank Brown, whose tenure ends on 10 December. The announcement regarding Brown’s replacement is also pending.
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.
