GECs
Kelly Clarkson, James Blunt triumph at MTV Video Music Awards
MUMBAI: Singers Kelly Clarkson and James Blunt triumphed at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards which took place a few nights ago in New York. Blunt won for the video You’re Beautiful while Clarkson won for the video Because of You. Best Group Video went The All-American Rejects’ Move Along.
Jay-Z welcomed the VMAs back to New York City. The night opened with Justin Timberlake’s performing SexyBack. The show’s host Jack Black, dressed as the bad Moonman and Elvis, followed with a comical rock performance featuring Tenacious D band mate Kyle Glass.
For the first time viewers were able to vote on all general
awards categories. Panic! at the Disco nabbed Best Video of the Year for I Write Sins Not Tragedies. Avenged Sevenfold won Best New Artist Video for their music video Bat Country. Beyonce took home a Moon Man for Best R&B Video for her music video Check on It.
While the VMAs aired live on MTV, MTV.com streamed VMA Live: Backstage Uncensored. This was a simultaneous view of the action behind the scenes and backstage that viewers have never gotten to see. Fans followed talent such as Ludacris, OK Go, and T.I. as they traveled from dressing rooms to the stage for their performances. In addition to the television and broadband experiences, MTV Mobile offered updates and recaps
of the VMAs across all wireless carriers. The VMAs were also celebrated across all of MTV’s platforms including MTV2, mtvU, MHD, MTV World, and Urge.
Stand up artiste Sarah Silverman took good natured jabs at everyone from Lance Bass to socialite Paris Hilton. Silverman had the audience laughing while she left celebrities guessing who was going to be her next target of sarcasm.
In a self-deprecating taped moment, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline earned some laughs when they announced the winner for Best R&B Video. The tone turned more serious when Queen Latifah introduced former US Vice President Al Gore to the stage. In the spirit of An Inconvenient Truth Gore brought a message of urgent importance concerning the world community to the VMA audience.
He projected the plight of the environment onto the actual walls of the theater. To highlight that caring about the environment is the new norm, MTV unveiled new Break the Addiction PSAs during the MTV Video Music Awards. The spots’ approach is that if you’re not actively combating global warming every day, you’re behind the times.
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.







