GECs
MAX signs on Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly?
MUMBAI: Is it a game of “me too” going on in sports broadcasting land? First was cricket “World Cup Network” SET MAX’s announcement that it had signed on cricket legend Kapil Dev as its brand ambassador. Going one better, ESPN Star Sports announced cricket demi-god Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. The latest, according to reliable industry sources, is that MAX has signed on India’s cricket captain and the “prince of Kolkata” Saurav Ganguly to represent the channel
When contacted for a response to reports that Saurav had entered into an association with Sony, Rajat Jain, executive V-P & business head, MAX, while not denying the news outright, said: “I have no knowledge at the moment as to the veracity of this information.”
It is not clear yet in what capacity Saurav could represent MAX as it already has a brand ambassador in Kapil. Still, it could well be that Kapil, a World Cup winning captain and Saurav, the man who the whole country must be praying will hold aloft the coveted trophy in South Africa, next year, will be used to reinforce the message of Sony as the World Cup Network.
Kapil’s signing has proved a bulls eye hit for Sony, especially as soon after the deal was done, he was declared Wisden’s Indian Cricketer of the Century, pipping both Sachin and batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar in the race for honours. If Saurav is indeed coming aboard, Sony would certainly be hoping the Indian captain leads from the front and inspires his young turks to perform on the field like they did in the recent Natwest Finals at Lords. There is nothing that will jack up viewership and bring ad money rolling in like a winning performance from the Indian cricket team.
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.
