GECs
Politics interferes with entertainment, channel coerced into pulling out particular content
MUMBAI: The film wing of a regional political party claimed that it has ‘forced’ a TV channel not to telecast content which it felt was insulting Shivaji Maharaj.
MNS film wing’s Amey Khopkar told PTI that he wrote to the channel, warning them against telecasting the programme which showed Shivaji Maharaj dancing with Afzal Khan.
He said that the channel had informed them that they had decided not to telecast the portion which was scheduled to be aired on 27 February and 28.
This is not the first time that the outfit used coercion to get its demands met. In September, Khopkar had given a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani artistes to leave India. The diktat had come at a time when relations between India and Pakistan were tense, after an attack by terrorists in Uri (Kashmir).
The political organisation, in January last year, had threatened to disrupt a proposed concert by ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali if it were to be held in Mumbai.
In October 2015, the MNS had ‘disallowed’ the screening of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan’s film “Bin Roye” in Maharashtra while, in 2012, the party’s leader slammed singer Asha Bhosle for working with Pakistani singers on a TV show aired on a channel.
MNS Chitrapat Sena in 2016 protested against the Marathi dubbed version of “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story”, saying dubbed movies would eat into the business of Marathi films.
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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.
