GECs
Kannada filmdom to witness producers’ ‘action’
BANGALORE: The Kannada film producers and their supporters will meet in Hubli on Saturday, 18 September to force theatre owners to release a Kannada film.
The film in question, Upendra-starrer Omkara, is scheduled for release on 18 September. The release of the movie coincides with the star’s birthday and the opening day of the Ganesha festival.
The producers along with a lot of support from the actor’s fraternity reportedly including the doyen of the Kannada film industry – Rajkumar will stage a protest march in Hubli starting from Kittur Rani Channama Circle to Lakshmi Shetty Theater.
The meeting is to ensure that Omkara is released in North Karnataka districts. The producers have reportedly placed ads for release of Omkara in six theaters in North Karnataka, one each in Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Bellary, Gadag and Bagalkot.
In response to the Kannada Film Exhibitors Federation’s (KEFF) request for police protection, the director general of police has reportedly assured the organisation that nobody could force them to release the film and that they would prevent the film fraternity and the crowd from gate-crashing.
KFPA president Basant Kumar Patil is quoted in media reports as saying, “How can they (theatres) not release the movie when the rest of the state is. We will ensure that it is released.”
Meanwhile, actor politician Ambarish who was brought in to mediate and sort the issue is meeting all the three directly effected parties – KFPA, exhibitors and distributors on 17 September.
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.
