GECs
MGM to celebrate Pink Panther’s 40th birthday globally
MUMBAI: Pink Panther, that mischievous animated icon turns 40 on 11 April. MGM has announced that it will be honouring the cool cat with a series of celebrations around the world. In India, MGM has a 50:50 JV with Zee for the channel Zee MGM.
The celebrations will range from a US postage stamp to a Pink Panther retail store in China. On the programming front, MGM will start a special Pink Panther A-Thon from 11 April. Over 100 countries will witness a programming marathon of Pink Panther material, and many will take part in different types of promotions and contests.
MGM will also come out with a special edition DVD gift set. This will consist of the Pink Panther films which starred Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau. For the US, the set will include digitally re-mastered versions of five Pink Panther movies and a bonus disc of special features including six original animated short films and commentary by the director.
Originally created in 1964 by animators Friz Freleng and David DePatie for the opening credits of the classic film comedy The Pink Panther the cool cat has gone from strength to strength. He has appeared in the Pink Panther live action movies and cartoon shorts as well as several successful television series which are still airing in worldwide syndication.
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.
