GECs
May-end launch target for Forbes online lottery
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: An online lottery on Star India or Sony Entertainment, or maybe even national broadcaster Doordarshan (a long shot this). Coming soon on the tube is an online lottery venture to rival Subhash Chandra’s Playwin through Tata Group company Forbes.
Forbes Dhan Dhanna Dhan Infotainment Pvt. Ltd is scheduled to kick off its Arunachal Pradesh state online lottery venture (titled Dhan Dhanna Dhan) on 30 May/1 June in 3,000 retail centres across the country.
While discussions are reportedly on with various parties, it currently seems to be a toss-up between between Star and Sony for what is one of four major new online lottery initiatives that are being put together at the moment. The other players being the Modi Group, white goods major Videocon and Essar.
While discussions are reportedly on with various parties, it currently seems to be a toss-up between between Star and Sony for what is one of four major new online lottery initiatives that are being put together at the moment. The other players being the Modi Group, white goods major Videocon and Essar.
At the moment though, all that DD allows is advertisements for online lotteries. It was only last year that the Prasar Bharati board gave DD the go-ahead to carry ads for the online lotteries that different state governments are promoting.
Coming back to Dhan Dhanna Dhan Infotainment, it is targeting 10,000 outlets at the end of Year One of operations. An initial investment of Rs 1,000 million is what has reportedly gone into the venture that is being headed by Rajan Kaaicker with a 90-strong team under him. Kaaicker, who was earlier Modi Entertainment Network CEO, distribution, was directing Videocon’s online lottery plans before taking the reins at Dhan Dhanna Dhan.
The question that is being asked is whether there will not be too much of a good thing what with all these big players entering the business. Well, projections are that once all these “big guns” become fully operational, annual revenues to the tune of Rs 70 billion will accrue. And three years down the line, that could go up to Rs 500 billion is what is estimated.
Wishful thinking? Not really if the figures that are being thrown around as to the kind of betting that went on during the cricket World Cup are true? Rs 150 billion is what is estimated to have been spent via illegal betting during the cricket carnival. The debate that is currently on whether cricket betting should be legalised is providing hope to the online lottery players as well. They say that the lottery vends could also be used to place bets. And it would all be transparent and above board, which would provide huge additional revenues to the government, the proponents.
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.
