GECs
Endemol India upbeat as ‘Fear Factor’ opens well for Sony
MUMBAI: Endemol India is upbeat as the opening numbers of Fear Factor India have come in. The show opened with TVRs of 4.6 in the C&S 4+ Hindi speaking markets (HSM), whereas it garnered TVRs of 3.2 in the C&S 4+ all India markets.
Fear Factor, which airs on Sony Entertainment India’s flagship channel SET, has opened as the channel’s top rated show.
And it’s not just Fear Factor India that the production company is buoyant about. At present Endemol has three shows on two channels in the 8 pm – 11 pm band. On Sony it has Deal Ya No Deal from 8 – 9 pm and Fear Factor from 9 – 10 pm. On Star One, Endemol has The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Dwitiya (TGILCD), which airs from 10 – 11 pm.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on Fear Factor India, an elated Endemol India managing director Rajesh Kamat said, “We are very happy with the opening numbers of Fear Factor and they have met our expectations. We are confident that the numbers from here on will only be on the rise as word of mouth is sure to bring in new viewers to the show.”
Dwelling on the factor that worked for the show, Kamat said, “Fear Factor has a novelty aspect, which has a potential of clicking with the audience. Apart from that, the chance of seeing celebrities in real life situations that involve thrill and drama has also worked for the show.”
Kamat is of the opinion that even without the celebrity factor, the show will continue to deliver numbers because of its freshness.
Now moving on to TGILC Dwitiya on Star One, which opened at a TVR of 5.06 in the C&S 4+ HSM. This was the first major project Endemol started work on after setting shop in India. If one had to compare the opening ratings of the first season, TGILC has surely seen a considerable increase in ratings. The first season opened with TVRs of 2.3.
Kamat said, “This is surely a good sign for us as the show has opened at 5 TVRs. One must keep in mind the fact that Star One is having connectivity problems in Mumbai and despite that the ratings is good. If we had had no problems in Mumbai, I’m sure the show would have opened at a TVRs of 7, because at the end of the day Mumbai is an important for any channel.”
The format of Deal Ya No Deal underwent a revamp when the anchor R Madhavan called it quits. Post his departure, in came the suave Mandira Bedi who has kept the show going. However, on the numbers front, Deal Ya No Deal hasn’t managed to deliver much.
But there’s more to come from Endemol India’s kitty. The high-tension game show Heartbeat will soon be launching on Star One. So one can expect a lot of activity from Endemol in terms of new programming and also good ratings.
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.
