GECs
French programme market Le Rendez-Vous kicks off today
TV France International (TVFI), a firm which promotes the production of French Television programmes abroad, kicked off the seventh edition of its international marketplace Le Rendezvous (the French TV Screenings) today.
There is a large contingent representing Indian industry at the event that includes Sandeep Goyal, Zee Telefilms broadcast CEO, Monica Dalton (also of Zee), Tomali Bhattacharaya of Eenadu TV, Naresh Chahal of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, Shailaja Kejriwal of Star Plus, Rathikant Basu of Tara TV – Broadcast Worldwide and Sanjay Bhattacharji of UTV, among others.
More than 170 buyers have registered to sample the 650 new programmes that 59 French companies like France Animation, CNDP and Gaumont will have on display at the provençal seaside resort of Saint-Tropez. The approach of the meet centers around content and ends on 14 September.
The productions cover a wide range of genres like drama series, movies made for the tube, features films and documentaries. Participants can view programmes of their choice at the video library, which is open everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For the convenience of international visitors most programs have two versions: French and English.
This event has seen many important transactions occur in the past several years. Last year, the new channels of the Canadian group Astral (the Fiction Channel and the History Channel) which began transmitting last January acquired more than 500 hours of programming for more than 25 million francs.
TVFI also maximises the efforts of French companies participating at international markets, festivals, and special events, such as Le Rendez Vous, MIP-ASIA, The Sitenghi Market, the Tokyo Showcase, NATPE and the US Television Showcase.
TVFI was created in 1994 to support promotion and world sales of French television programmes. TVFI serves as a trade association, providing information and advice on international strategies to its 170 member companies, whose activities encompass programme production, broadcasting, distribution and finance.
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.
