GECs
‘KBC’ to come back July, say Nair, AB
MUMBAI: The cash registers are going to start ringing in July. The telephone lines are going to start humming once again. Star is bringing back its runaway success, the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in July, possibly with more prize money.
Confirming this to indiantelevision.com, Star India chief operating officer Sameer .Nair said pre-production is slated to start in February.
“We have a balance of 85 episodes with Bachchan. We can also do more,” he said. Bachchan’s existing contract with Star was for 390 episodes.
On being queried whether the prize money would remain the same, Nair said “it may be more.” The show, which changed the fortunes of Star Plus, used to hand over a maximum award of Rs 1 crore (10 million) to the winner.
But would there be any change from the original KBC, which was launched on 3 July 2000 and which went off the air in 2002? “It is too early to state anything definite now,” said Nair. Though the basic format of the show taken from Who Wants to be a Millionaire can’t change, Star could introduce some element of novelty to revive its popularity which started waning towards the end before being put off air.
KBC 2005 will continue to be produced by Siddharth Basu’s Synergy Communications.
Bachchan had earlier confirmed to Subhash K Jha, a columnist with indiantelevision.com, that KBC was being revived in July. “I kept shifting the date because of my film commitments. But now I don’t think delaying KBC makes any sense. While I still have my wits I better get down to it. So I’ll make time for KBC in July,” Bachchan has told Jha.
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.
