GECs
Senior level changes effected in DD News
NEW DELHI: This festive season, changes are taking place thick and fast in media organisations. If Zee Telefilms made changes in its hierarchy, the country’s biggest broadcasting outfit, Prasar Bharati too did not want to be left behind on the Christmas eve.
According to sources in Prasar Bharati – which oversees pubcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) – Swagat Ghosh, the additional director-general in charge of DD News, has been shunted out. He has been transferred to a low-profile Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity, an organisation under the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry.
Sources say, the once upon a time blue-eyed boy of the I&B ministry, Sanjiv Dutta, has replaced Ghosh. New inductees in DD News – like Aaj Tak’s former political editor Deepak Chaurasia – who recently joined the channel would report to him.
Chaurasia is the consulting editor of DD News from the time of its relaunch on 3 November, 2003 and is credited with having made DD News fighting fit.
Another change that has been effected in DD News is that of Muthukumar, a senior person in the news outfit. He has been transferred to another ministry, which would be, in all probability, the finance ministry.
All the changes are with immediate effect. However, the reason for Ghosh and Muthukumar’s departure from DD News is still not clear as the I&B ministry officials were not available to put the movements into perspective.
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.
