GECs
Sony-Time Warner battle for MGM intensifies
MUMBAI: The battle over the acquisition of MGM between Sony and Time Warner is heating up.
While at this point Time Warner appears to be ahead, Sony CFO Katsumi Ihara has reiterated that the company needs to buy MGM to expand its own film unit.
In an interview to Bloomberg, Ihara said that acquiring MGM would boost Sony’s movie unit, giving it an expanded movie library and rights to films in development. It was in April that Sony had expressed its interest in buying MGM.
A recent report in the Wall Street Journal had stated that while Sony, Texas Pacific Group and Providence Equity Partners are negotiating to buy MGM for almost $5 billion, Time Warner has offered $4.6 billion in cash.
Another report in imdb.com said that if MGM goes to Time Warner then it will greatly facilitate the making of The Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit by LOTR director Peter Jackson and Time Warner division New Line Cinema. The movie rights to The Hobbit are held currently by MGM.
This year Sony’s biggest hit has been Spider-Man 2 which has earned $740 million worldwide. MGM’s library consists of over 4,000 films which include the James Bond flicks. In India, MGM has a JV with Zee for the channel Zee MGM.
If the deal were to go through in favour of Sony, it would give the Japanese company a chance to increase brand recognition in the US beyond its core electronics business. Sony will then probably fold MGM into its Sony Pictures Entertainment division.
At the moment Sony’s movie business accounts for less than 10 per cent of its total revenue. An MGM acquisition would no doubt change that ratio.
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.
