GECs
Prasar Bharati’s Ramayana gets into Twitter controversy
MUMBAI: Any news is good news is an adage many have followed and touted. But Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati did not expect that Ramayana which is currently getting the country glued to Doordarshan’s channels and to the TV to be caught in the thick of controversy over the source for telecasting the series on the public broadcaster.
It all started with tweet from independent journalist Neha Dixit, in which she said: “Apologies for the inane tweet. But Doordarshan, India’s national broadcaster, is streaming Ramayana from a Moser Baer DVD. Along with the watermark.”
As proof, she posted a screen capture of Arun Govil, who plays Ram in the show, prominently displaying the watermark.
That got Shashi Shekhar’s goat who promptly responded: “This does not seem to be from Doordarshan, please recheck your source.”
To which, Neha did not respond.
That started a war on twitter with hundreds of twitterati blasting Dixit and one of the publications she writes for – The Wire. Some twitterati also suggested that DD should sue her for her brand of journalism.
But both Shashi Shekhar and Neha chose to stay mum, even though many of his followers said that the screengrab has been taken from a YouTube channel – where the show is running – and is being passed of as that from DD.
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.
