GECs
Colors and Rajasthan Royals launches ‘Cricket Ka Ticket’
Mumbai : Colors and Rajasthan Royals have announced the launch of their brand-new cricket reality show, Cricket Ka Ticket. From 19 March , 2023, cricket fans across the country will be able to watch the show on Viacom18’s flagship Hindi entertainment channel Colors and Jio Cinema. TV presenter Mandira Bedi will host the first episode of the show.
A selected pool of 22 talented cricketers have reached the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre in Talegaon, Nagpur, chosen from lakhs of applicants who had registered for trials in December 2022. These uncapped and raw players will be given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to realise their cricket dreams. Trials for Cricket Ka Ticket were held in multiple cities across the country for both men and women over the age of 18. This cricket reality show provides a platform for those who have aspired to play professional cricket at the highest level to showcase their abilities.
These selected players will embark on an intense 8-week journey under the supervision of cricket experts who will work on their fitness, discipline, technique, and a variety of other aspects of the game. The show’s judges and guest walk-ins include Mohammad Kaif, Aakash Chopra, Jaya Sharma, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Murali Kartik, Pravin Tambe, and MC Mary Kom. Furthermore, Rajasthan Royals players such as captain Sanju Samson, top-order batters Devdutt Padikkal and Yashasvi Jaiswal, and pacer Navdeep Saini will grace the occasion and interact with the talented pool of selected players. The Royals’ coaching staff will include the legendary Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga.
The ultimate goal for each of these chosen men and women cricketers will be to bag the golden opportunity of appearing for trials with the Rajasthan Royals and other women’s T20 teams, along with a 1-year mentorship program with Rajasthan Royals coaches, mentors, and players. One male & one female winner will also earn themselves a cash prize of Rs 5 lacs each.
Viacom18 Branded Content, head Vivek Mohan Sharma, commenting on the partnership, said, “Colors has been at the forefront of creating ground-breaking reality shows and tentpole properties. Cricket remains a unifying sport for people in India and each of them dream to become a professional cricketer and play at the highest level. ‘Cricket Ka Ticket’ will be a unique platform where we merge cricket with entertainment, to provide a complete package of ‘Cricketainment’ for the audience and brands alike. Such impactful content goes a long way to foster audience engagement and leverage brand associations.”
Rajasthan Royals Chief Business Officer Alok Chitre said, “Our mission at the Royals has always been to ‘transform society through cricket and cricket through innovation’, and with ‘Cricket Ka Ticket’ we are delighted to have presented this life-altering opportunity to these select, remarkable boys and girls who have been scouted from across the country. We are a franchise that has always taken pride in unearthing young, unidentified talent, and in providing them with a platform to deliver. Through this talent hunt and under the guidance of the best sporting brains, we hope to find the next cricket superstars of India.”
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.
