GECs
OutKast, Jay-Z triumph at MTV Video Music Awards
MUMBAI: Miami was sizzling Sunday night as celebrities made a splash on the red carpet and on stage at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). OutKast and Jay-Z topped the list of winners with four Moon Men each.
The event aired live on MTV US on 29 August at 8 pm.
OutKast was recognised for the track Hey Ya. It won for Video of the Year, Hip Hop Video, Special Effects in a Video, and Art Direction in a Video. Jay-Z won four Moon Men for 99 Problems.
The night started with celebrities arriving by yacht for the first time ever in the awards show history. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had their official “coming out” as a married couple as they arrived by yacht and paraded the red carpet.
For the opening act, Usher stepped out of the rain, to sing his hit single Confessions and then went into an energetic performance of Yeah. He was surrounded by people descending from the rafters and flying and jumping to the beat working the nearly 13,000 audience members into a frenzy!
Another key moment was rapper turned actor Will Smith Ali flying onto the stage to introduce basketball team Miami Heat’s newest member Shaquille O’Neal. There was a digital reveal of a 40 foot tall O’Neal.
At the show it was also announced that MTV, working through the Red Cross, would be making a significant contribution to aid the people of northern Florida. The area had recently been hit by Hurricane Charley. John Kerry and George Bush’s daughters who made the announcement also encouraged the crowd to get out and vote in the upcoming November elections.
A unique angle to the show came courtesy a rock in the round performance. A battle of the bands took place on three different stages with Jet, Hoobstank, and Yellowcard.
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.
