GECs
EndemolShine India to produce Miss World Festival 2024
Mumbai: In an exciting development for the global entertainment industry, the Miss World Organization has officially appointed EndemolShine India as the producer for the upcoming 71st Miss World Festival, a global extravaganza that will be streamed and telecast across the world. This marks a significant milestone as the prestigious event returns to India after 28 years, promising a grand celebration of female achievement and women’s empowerment. Branding, sponsorships, and media buying for the festival will be managed by Adsplash Media Pvt Ltd.
Commenting on the development, Banijay Asia & EndemolShine India group COO Rishi Negi said, “Getting the production mandate for Miss World 2024 is a testament to our leadership and excellence in large-scale event production. This opportunity allows us to bring our expertise to one of the most celebrated global events, right here in India.” Elsewhere in the Banijay footprint, Miss France was produced, by the company of the same name, for TF1, where it was the second most viewed unscripted show in the country last year.
Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, Julia Evelyn Morley CBE, expressed her excitement, stating, ” “Returning to India, a country that I adore, and inviting 120 National winners to experience the beauty of this nation is a tremendous honour. We will be bringing the world to India and showcasing India to the world.”
Scheduled to take place between 18 February and 9 March 2024 the festival will be hosted across several spectacular venues, including the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The series of events will kick off with “The Opening Ceremony” and “India Welcomes the World Gala” on February 20th, hosted by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) at the stunning Hotel Ashok in New Delhi. The festival will culminate with the dazzling 71st Miss World global finale at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on 9 March.
This monumental event, renowned for propelling the profiles of eminent personalities like Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, and Manushi Chillar, has been pivotal in enhancing India’s stature on the global stage. The Miss World pageant, established in 1951, extends beyond traditional beauty contests, fostering a new paradigm focused on empowering women through humanitarian service.
The 71st Miss World Festival will feature various competitions and charitable initiatives, emphasizing the qualities that make these young women ambassadors of change. Each contestant will have their own media channel on the MissWorld.com platform, allowing them to showcase why they should advance to the Top 20 finalists.
Vikas Lifecare Jamil Saidi strategic partner MW added “I’m delighted that my efforts to bring the 71st Miss World to India have been made a reality by the brilliant Miss World team. Miss World and Endemol are ideal event partners and will help showcase our country’s beauty to the whole world”
The key competitions and milestones during the festival comprise:
• World Top Designer Award & Miss World Top Model – Mumbai
• Miss World Sport Challenge – New Delhi
• Miss World Talent Final- Mumbai
• Multi Media Challenge- Mumbai
• Head To Head Challenge Final– The Summit Room Bharat Mandapam – New Delhi 23 February
• Continental Beauty With A Purpose Challenge- Plenary Hall Bharat Mandapam – New Delhi 21 February
• Miss World Red Carpet Special Jio World Convention Centre. Mumbai
• 71st Miss World Final Global Telecast Live 7:30-10:30 Saturday, 9 March – Jio World Convention Centre. Mumbai
Adsplash Media founder and director Karan Sethi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and commented, “It’s an honour to be associated with one of the most prestigious global events. We look forward to working closely with the Miss World Organization to unlock value for our brands and customers.”
Miss World Organization in India advisor Munish Gupta highlighted the event’s role in showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage, arts, crafts, and more to a global audience
“Hosting 120 global contestants to experience the beauty and diverse culture of this great nation, is indeed a tremendous honour. “
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.
