GECs
Octagon to move TV production to Putney HQ
MUMBAI: Sports broadcast and production company Octagon CSI will integrate its television production arm into its West London headquarters in order to improve efficiency and consolidate the business going forward.
The TV production operation, which currently resides in Wimbledon Park, will move into Octagon House in Fulham Road, Putney, by 23 December 2005. The move will see personnel, archive footage and production equipment housed in the same building as the rest of the business.
The company says that it has reached a favourable agreement with the Wimbledon Park landlord which enables the site to be redeveloped and gives OCSI the opportunity to achieve its goal of housing all of its staff under one roof in Putney. At the same time this will allow the company to invest in new infrastructure and equipment at its Putney HQ so that it is better able to service the requirements of its clients, particularly in the area of new media. The production operation will move into currently empty office space within Octagon House, alongside the other three areas of the business, rights, new media and brandcasting.
Octagon CSI president Chris Guinness said, There are huge advantages to everyone being in the same place, not only from a practical point of view. The move will allow us to be a much more efficient organisation due to a reduction in our fixed overheads and enable us to consolidate Octagon CSIs unique offering across the whole sports and entertainment business.
Television production, under the leadership of Stewart Binns, is a key part of our ongoing plans to grow the business in the long-term across all forms of the media and we have a very talented team of people.
The move comes as Octagon CSI is buoyed by the news that it has signed a new three-year deal with the Football League to distribute the international rights for the Football League and the Coca Cola Cup from 2006/07, and has also set up a joint-venture business with British Telecom to produce and distribute sports footage for mobile, internet and broadband.
Octagon Television is also currently working on a number of productions. These include Chasing Churchill In Search of my Grandfather with Celia Sandys, Celebrity Nightmares with APTN, Bad Boyz of Art, Reel Race and Golazo, the weekly round-up of football action from the major leagues in the world.
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.
