GECs
Sahara One to air movies before theatrical release
MUMBAI: For the first time ever, Sahara One will be airing movies prior to their theatrical release. This will start from 10 June with Hum Jo Keh Na Paaye at 8:30 pm.
Sahara One Television COO Purnendu Bose said, “Indian entertainment space will witness a new era, a new beginning where television viewers, especially viewers on Sahara One would be able to watch mega movies in the comfort of their homes, even before it is released in theatres. The idea is to increase the size of screen. The small screen is getting bigger and bigger and it deserves to be.”
“Today C&S television reaches 44 million homes, if mega movies are all about entertaining masses, television today offers much greater reach with depth and width across the country. That is the reason why we thought Sahara One Television as an alternative platform to theatrical releases,” he added.
Agrees trade pundit Taran Adarsh, “In the West, when a film is made, the studio analyses whether the film is for a theatrical, a DVD or a television release. It is a common practice there. But in India, it has always been theatrically released first and then shown on television. it has never happened that a mainstream producer releases his film on television.”
The other two movies that will be aired this month, apart from Hum JO Keh Naa Paaye are Tum Ho NAand Pehchaan.
Hum JO Keh NA Paaye stars Abhijit Sanyal, Gauri Karnik and Anupam Kher. Tum Ho NA, stars Jackie Shroff, Ria Sen and Nethra Raghuraman and will be aired on 17 June at 8.30 pm.
Pehchaan, starring Raveena Tandon, Vinod Khanna and Rati Agnihotri will air on 24 June.
Hum JO Keh NA Paaye producer Smita Thackeray said, “Television viewership is definitely more than theatres and has amazing penetration. In fact, I think that some soaps are more popular than movies today attracting its own set of loyal viewers. With the kind of promotion from Sahara One, we are definitely bound to reach more viewers through the television release.”
Bose adds that this move of pioneering Friday releases on television is a definite indicator of the changing trends of film business in India.
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.
