GECs
MAX gears up for its next big innings
MUMBAI:Trust MAX to experiment and innovate – that too in style. After the much-hyped Cricket World Cup that reaped fruitful returns for the channel, it is now all geared up to create a similar buzz around its next catch – Devdas – ,the biggest blockbuster film of 2002 .
Mandira Bedi, who attracted many an eyeball during the World Cup, is all set to charm the viewers once again on Sunday, 27 April when the mega movie premieres on the channel at 8 pm.
Clad in the sari worn by Aishwarya Rai who played the lead role of Paro in the movie, she will host the interstitials disclosing facts, a peek behind the scenes and trivia associated with the movie. “Did you know that nearly 600 saris were brought in from Kolkata for her role as Paro,” said an over-excited Mandira who gave only this one hint as to what was in store for the viewers.
The channel is pulling out all the stops to entice viewers. Apart from showcasing the making of the movie on 21 April, the channel will also air Dola Re Dole, an exclusive compilation of songs from the film.
“Presenting films on a channel is a different business altogether. The challenge faced by our channel is to differentiate our movies from that shown on other channels. So we decided to experiment and give the Indian audience a new experience of watching a movie ,” said MAX executive V-P Rajat Jain.
“Max’s perspective is to focus on big products. What the World Cup is to cricket, Devdas has been to films last year,” he stated.
The interstitials will appear before the movie begins, during ad breaks and after the movie. “The whole idea is to generate excitement and interest among viewers. We will run a contest wherein questions will be flashed during the movie. The viewers will be required to SMS the answers. The lucky winners will win a free trip to Mauritius ,” said Jain.
The other blockbuster movies lined up for the channel include Deewangee and Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage to name a few. “Investment in the brand depends on the returns expected. Every effort has been taken to position the brand,” said Jain, when asked if a similar hype would be created for all its blockbuster movies.
“After Devdas, we will be air the Rolling Stones concert on 10 May, followed by Indian International Film Awards IIFA sometime early June,” said Jain of the future attractions on the channel. In addition, the channel has also announced a Friday Blockbuster Festival which will showcase some of the latest Bollywood flicks, starting 2 May till 22 June 2003.
Though it remains to be seen if the new experiment with Mandira gets the desired results, it is the channel’s attempt to innovate and present movies and events in a more palatable style that keeps everyone asking – what next?
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.
