GECs
Sony bags showman Ghai library
The Showman – as Subhash Ghai is known – has found a buyer for his 15 strong movie library, a year after B4U failed to deliver on its commitments to acquiring it. The buyer this time has deeper pockets so Mukta Arts shareholders and investors need not crease their brows with worry: Sony Entertainment Television. The transaction is believed to be valued in the region of Rs 140 million, a similar amount that B4U had agreed to pay Mukta Arts earlier.
Sony will be airing the movies in two tranches under the banner of The Dream Merchant- the Subhash Ghai film festival airing every Saturday. The first tranche is from 25 May to 6 July and is scheduled to be only on Sony Entertainment Television. The lineup of the movies is: Taal (25 May), Karma (1 June), Karz (8 June), Pardes (15 June), Saudagar (22 June) Khalnayak (29 June), and Yaadein (6 July).
In the second tranche, the remaining eight movies will air on Set Max in October after the Champions Trophy. SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta is buoyant: “This is the biggest acquisition of Hindi movie blockbusters to date. And we are bringing the best of Indian cinema to our viewers.” SET officials say that a host of promotions is planned around the festival and Ghai himself may make an appearance to promote his brand of cinema.
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.
