GECs
Sony Pictures Television inks deal with CJ Entertainment
MUMBAI: Advancing its strategy of providing Asian clients with the best of Western and regional content, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has announced its first distribution agreement with the leading producer of Korean movies — CJ Entertainment (CJ).
SPTI will partner with CJ to handle television distribution rights to two Korean theatrically-released films — The Greatest Expectation and How to Keep My Love.
SPTI will distribute these titles throughout most of the Asian region outside of Japan. The announcement was made today by SPTI senior vice president, distribution (Asia) Ross Pollack and CJ Entertainment CFO and head of international Mark Shaw.
Announcing the same, Pollack stated, “This deal reinforces SPTI’s position as a leading supplier of content from Asia and Hollywood. These Korean pictures complement SPTI’s strong catalogue – a catalog that includes Kung Fu Hustle, which has shattered box office records across Asia, and the Spider-Man franchise. CJ Entertainment is a major creative force in the Korean content arena and we are very pleased to collaborate with them to bring outstanding Korean movies to our clients across Asia. We look forward to working on future distribution projects together as well as building on this relationship with CJ to further explore other business areas of cooperation.”
Shaw added, “We are very proud to have SPTI distributing these two Korean films for us throughout the Asian market. With their strong distribution platform, anchored by their broad and comprehensive content, we are fully confident that SPTI will expand the reach of these films. CJ Entertainment is committed to providing better access to Korean content to the rest of the world. As Korean films and Korean talent are beginning to receive international appreciation, it is important that we strive to find better ways to share that content. That is why we are very excited about the possibilities of working with Sony in this endeavor, as well as seeking other opportunities to collaborate to better produce and distribute Asian content together.”
How to Keep My Love is a romantic comedy that centers on a 29-year-old woman who believes that she has everything except a successful relationship with her boyfriend.
The Greatest Expectation, on the other hand, is a comedy about two unemployed underachievers — Chang-sik, who has been shamelessly freeloading off his older brother for two years, and Mi-young, who nurtures grandiose dreams of becoming a TV actress but has failed every audition because she just can’t act. The two become enemies over a dime, but then become entangled in a scheme to collect five million dollars after witnessing a hit and run traffic accident involving a very wealthy man.
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.
