GECs
Media stocks: will they tumble down further?
The fear was palpable. As trading closed on the Bombay stock exchange a chill went down the spines of media related executives as the rumour gathered pace that action was being planned against the biggest player on the Indian stock markets. The broker, who reportedly paid out advance tax of Rs 910 million sometime back, is likely to be arrested on the morning of 6 March, if the buzz is to be believed. Apparently, some documents implicating him were discovered in the locker of film financier and diamond baron Bharat Shah, who is currently in the cooler for his alleged links with the underworld.
If the gossip turns out to be true then there could be a run on the stock markets. And on media, telecom and software stocks as the broker is believed to have huge exposures to Zee Telefilms, HFCL, Global Telesystems and some say Balaji Telefilms, amongst several other stocks. That the market is wary was seen from the selling pressure on Zee, HFCL and Global Tele. Zee Telefilms crashed to a new 12 month low when it slumped to below Rs 115. HFCL and Global Tele also saw more than 16 per cent being lopped off from their share price.
Saregama India (Rs 286.95) lost 16 per, Jain Studios (down 13.75 per cent to Rs 56.90), Balaji Telefilms (Rs 205.90), Mukta Arts (Rs 171.60), Creative Eye (Rs 28.80), Padmalaya Telefilms (Rs 65.75), Cinevista Communications (Rs 68.05), Tips Industries (Rs 129.30) and Vision Tech (Rs 23.75) were media shares that went into a tizzy.
The alarm bells were ringing with the possibility of Zee TV dropping to below the Rs 100 mark should the arrest of the broker happen on 6 March. The broker has in recent times turned a seller of the Zee stock as he has got into a bit of a financial crunch on account of the take over of Global Trust Bank by the Unit Trust of India.
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.
