GECs
Colors slots ‘Bigg Boss 9’ at 10.30 pm; brands iffy?
MUMBAI: Promoting the ninth season of its reality show Bigg Boss as ‘double trouble,’ Colors has piqued interest by slotting it late in the 10.30 pm band as opposed to the earlier 9 pm time slot.
However, the media planning and buying community as well as advertisers are somewhat skeptical about the new timing for the popular show fearing that viewership might go down in the 10.30 pm slot.
According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the reason behind putting the show in the 10.30 pm slot was that Colors’ prime time shows Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (9 pm) and Swaragini (9.30 pm) are doing exceptionally well in their respective time slots. WhileSwaragini has continuously managed to maintain its position amongst the top five progarmmes in Hindi GECs, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrattoo makes appearance in the top five every now and then.
“Changes in the time slot will definitely influence the viewership as well as the ad rates for the show. The ad rates this year are likely to go down as compared to last year’s rates. Brands are unhappy with the channel’s decisions as prime time gives more visibility to them,” said a senior media planner, on condition of anonymity.
Another media planner added, “The late hour time slot will certainly pose question marks on brands’ willingness to come on board as well as the ad rates pricing. But on the other hand, Salman Khan’s brand value has also gone up substantially. So while the time shift of Bigg Bosswill impact viewership and subsequently the ad rates in the initial periods, I feel that the broadcaster will pick it up by putting captivating content. Overall Bigg Boss will retain its charm.”
Colors has roped in SnapDeal as the title sponsor for the show, powered by Oppo Mobile India and driven by Maruti Swift.
While the opening episode of Bigg Boss 9 on Sunday, 11 October will be aired at 9 pm, subsequent episodes of the season will be telecast from 10.30 – 11.30 pm.
With Bigg Boss 9 being slotted at 10.30 pm, Colors will do away with the repeat telecast of Ishq Ka Rang Safed at 10:30 pm. On the other hand, Code Red in the 11 pm slot will also go off air, according to the sources. Whether the channel will reschedule the show is not known as of now.
With the tagline of ‘Double Trouble,’ Bigg Boss 9 and the new time slot does give some wind to the speculation that some of the show’s content may be risqué and not suitable for family viewing as per the country’s television guidelines. While the contestants’ antics coupled with Khan’s inimitable hosting style has managed to pack a punch more often than not, this season of Bigg Boss seems to promise doubled the fun.
That said, it will be interesting to see whether the change in time slot for Bigg Boss 9 will work for Colors or not and whether brands show the same enthusiasm for the show as for its previous seasons.
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.
