GECs
ETV and ETV2 switched to pay mode
MUMBAI: Eenadu Television (ETV) has taken two of its Telugu channels – ETV and ETV2 – pay with effect from 1 February.
The combined price of the channels is Rs 10. While ETV is a general entertainment channel, ETV2 is a news channel.
“We have priced the two channels at Rs 10. We will decide on our other channels at the appropriate time,” said a senior ETV executive.
ETV, which has a host of 11 satellite language channels, has only taken its Telugu channels pay. The other language channels are ETV Telugu, Bangla, Marathi, Kannada, Urdu, Madhya Pradesh, Oriya, Gujarati, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
The two pay channels, however, are free-to-air (FTA) in Chennai which is a conditional access system (CAS) market. “We haven’t decided yet whether we should stay FTA there. We are waiting for our local team’s report,” said the executive.
A few other pay channels have taken the strategic decision to stay FTA only for the Chennai market. Adithya and Teja News, both Telugu channels from the Sun Network stable, are not pay channels in Chennai. Pogo, the Hindi kids channel from the Cartoon Network stable, is also a FTA channel in Chennai.
ETV is using Homecast decoder boxes. The company’s internal distribution team will handle the two pay channels including its placement on cable TV networks.
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.
