GECs
Disney-Fox merger sees more layoffs: Report
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Studios (Disney) 21st Century Fox (Fox) merger continues to cost jobs with another round of layoffs this week. A large number of employees have been laid off from both sides. Since Disney completed its $71.3 billion acquisition of much of Fox, nearly 250 people have exited so far.
A report from Variety revealed that the latest round of layoff comes in the backdrop of analysts’ prediction of more than 1000 jobs being eliminated due to the merger. According to the report, the latest episode has mainly impacted the production and visual effects departments.
Visual effects head John Kilkenny, feature production executive VP Fred Baron, physical production executive VP Dana Belcastro and post-production executive VP Fred Chandler are among the executives who have received pink slips on the Fox side. Those roles reported to Fox film production vice chairman and president Emma Watts prior to the acquisition. Although Disney has enacted three previous rounds of layoffs mostly impacting Fox staffers, severance packages have been generous.
Disney also informed its staffs that it would shut Fox Research Library on or before 6 January 2020. Fox Library’s content would be integrated into Disney’s own archives. While the teams at the Walt Disney Archives (founded 1970) and the Imagineering Research Library will be evaluating and handling the collection, it is not clear yet if the library’s archivists will also be laid off.
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.
