GECs
First CGI telly show next year courtesy DreamWorks, NBC
MUMBAI: Computer generated image (CGI) technology has made a major impression on the silver screen over the last couple of years. Shrek won Dreamworks an Oscar. Ice Age proved to be a monster hit for Rupert Murdoch’s Fox last year. It was only a matter of time before the concept came to television.
US network NBC has teamed up with DreamWorks for what is a first on television, namely a primetime series made only using computer-generated images.
A Reuters report indicates that the show, titled Father of the Pride, will deal with the foibles of a family (albeit animals) with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humour. The half-hour series will revolve around the competition between a family of snobbish white tigers and a white lion pride featured in the Siegfried & Roy theatre act. The Las Vegas show is filled with elaborate sets, costumes, illusions, and live exotic animals. The NBC Dreamworks TV show will debut next year.
CGI has blown away the old fashioned technique of animated drawings. Besides the kids the above-mentioned CGI feature films have managed to hook in the adults and that is something NBC and Jeffrey Katzenberg no doubt must be hoping for.
Readers will recall that the CGI technique came into prominence in 1995 with the release of Toy Story. Through painstaking work involving hours of research the production team was able to make the facial features and movements of Woody and Buzz Lightyear somewhat resemble Tom Hanks and Tim Allen who memorably voiced the characters.
Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and the rest of the Dreamworks gang are obviously looking to push the envelope regarding the work possible with CGI. The project will mean that the studio will have to stay in front regarding the latest advancements in CGI.
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.
