GECs
IBF will resist any move to undercut ad revenue from govt & PSUs
MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the apex body of broadcasters, has said that it will resist any move by the government to undercut ad revenue from PSUs. This comes after Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave a call to the prime minister to put an end to all advertisements by the various state governments and PSUs for a period of two years.
In a release, the IBF said that it stands indomitably with the government of India in its fight against the COVID -19 outbreak. Broadcasters, voluntarily seizing the initiative, have been advising, educating and informing the public of the various measures taken by the government of India to fight the pandemic and urging them to stay home and safe.
“Like other sectors which have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, the media and broadcasting industry cannot claim immunity. In these testing times, any decision by the government to curtail budgetary allocation to advertisements carried out by various channels in lieu of government advertising will sound the death knell for the sector and particularly so, for the regional and smaller channels whose overwhelming dependence on government ads cannot be both overstated and undermined. With the closure of cinemas, the complete cessation of production of films and television shows, cancellations of live sporting events and scheduled advertisements and delays in payments by advertising agencies and distribution platform operators, the M&E sector is already facing the brunt of the slowdown. Advertisement bookings have nosedived by 50 per cent,” said the release.
IBF further says that in such a scenario, it will resist any such move by the government to undercut revenue for government advertising as many of its member channels will lose substantial revenues and will be compelled to shut down resulting in massive job losses. “At this critical moment when the nation stands united to deal with the aftermath of COVID-19 outbreak, we request all parties to give a thought for the media sector which is known for its neutrality and objectivity. A lot of government ads relate to social messages concerning health, education, etc. TV still remains the primary mode of disseminating these messages to the citizens of India and stopping these ads is not in public interest,” it added.
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.
