GECs
Kappa TV asks viewers to shoot an idea
MUMBAI: First, it dared to go off the beaten track with a programming mix in four languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and English. And now, Kerala Mathrubhumi Group’s youth-centric music channel – Kappa TV – will telecast a new contest show for a month starting end-November.
The contest is about being creative with your mobile gadgets and though a date and time hasn’t been fixed yet, it will be a half an hour show with 24 minutes of content and 6 minutes of advertising during prime time from Monday to Friday with repeats over the weekend.
Participants will be required to click/record a short film or photo gallery/music album and submit online to the channel, with entries of not more than 3 minutes’ duration. The second level will see 30 people selected from each category, whittled down to 10 each. Three winners will be chosen from each category in the third and final level, with prizes worth Rs 3.5 lakh distributed among the nine winners, who will be featured on Kappa TV. Of the three levels, the first has no particular theme while the second and third rounds will be more specific.
“We want to see to what extent people can extend their imagination,” says Mathrubhumi TV CEO Mohan Nair, who is helming the eight-strong in-house team producing the show.
What about the authenticity of the clips being received? Nair says they won’t know in the first round but for the next two rounds, a separate team will monitor the participants.
While the show host and three judges are being finalised, it is certain they will be popular local personalities. Each episode, shot in Malayalam at the Mathrubhumi TV Studio, will feature six people demonstrating not only their creativity but also delving into their work, family and aspirations.
Promotions are on since 22 October, and will go on till 21 November, involving the Mathrubhumi Group’s strong media line up of news and radio channels, newspapers and website, as also outdoor hoardings and college activities in the form of game shows.
“The contest is open to all but we are getting the youth involved because they are very much in tune with mobile phones and they are also keen to be involved with channels. Our research revealed that not just students but also parents are watching Kappa TV,” says Nair.
Not surprisingly, Kappa TV has 22,773 subscribers on YouTube while its Facebook page boasts 31, 632 likes. In keeping with the concept of the show, Kappa has roped in Idea Cellular as on-ground and on-air sponsor.
Hope this ‘idea’ works for Kappa TV gets in youngsters as well as elders to spin their creative ideas.
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.
