GECs
Sony to air IIFA awards live on 17 May
MUMBAI: It is that time of the year again when Sony Entertainment Television will be airing Sony to telecast the International Indian Film Festival (IIFA).
The fourth edition of IIFA awards will be telecast at 9:00 pm on 17 May, live from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The awards that were held at Millennium Dome in London, Sun City in South Africa and Malaysia, thus far, showcase the best of Indian cinema and provides a platform for interaction with global media.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, SET executive vice president Sunil Lulla said that this year Sony is anticipating viewers from across the globe to tune in to watch the filmi affair live and exclusive.
The press conference was also attended by South African media specially flown down. Meanwhile, the film icon and IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan set the tone for the awards extravaganza to be held at The Dome@Northgate, South Africa,s definitive multi purpose indoor entertainment arena with a capacity of over 11,000 guests.
With IIFA being associated with it for the fourth year in a row, the telecast partner Sony has an elaborate plans to showcase the event. The three day weekend,Samsung IIFA 2003 weekend , is marked to highlight the event includes the actual awards ceremony.
The nominations for the awards were released by a PriceWaterhouseCoopers representative at the conference, derived from the IIFA voting weekend held earlier in Mumbai.
IIFA advisory board member Shyam Shroff announced that the Abhishek Bachchan – Lara Dutta starrer Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost would be premiered during the awards weekend. The film has been selected from eight films shortlisted for an IIFA premiere. The sequel to Matrix, Matrix Reloaded, too is scheduled for a premiere during the weekend, according to sources.
South African Airlines will specially fly down 350 members of the film fraternity, including film stars, directors, music directors and other celebrities to Johannesburg. The IIFA awards return to S Africa after two years.
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.
