GECs
Sony bags global TV rights for ‘Holland Cup’
MUMBAI: The big India cricketing properties for 2004 are getting sewn up. If ESPN Star Sports has won television broadcast rights for the first big cricket tournament after the Indo-Pak series, next month’s Asia Cup, Sony Entertainment Television is not going to be left behind.
Sony has won the global telecast rights for the still-to-be-titled tri-nation tournament featuring three of the biggest draws in cricket — Australia, India and Pakistan. The “Holland Cup” will be played out at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, between 22 and 29 August. The format of this tourney is such that there will be only four matches, including the final.
Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that the likely title sponsor for the event will be white goods major Videocon. All the matches will be played at 10:30 am local time which translates to 2 pm India time, the same timings that a Day-Night ODI in India would have.
And the acquisition costs? Industry sources estimate the rights cost to be about $ 3 million.
When contacted, MAX executive vice president and business head Rajat Jain, refused to be drawn into a comment on whether Sony had the rights.
Repeated attempts to contact SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta regarding the same proved unsuccessful.
For Sony, the Holland Cup provides the ideal curtain raiser to its big ticket event of 2004, the Champions Trophy, which is being hosted by England from 10-25 September. The Holland Cup would likely provide marketing and distribution build-up opportunities in much the same way the Champions Trophy in 2002 was the “lead-in” to the World Cup in March 2003.
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.
