GECs
Sony to pull the plug on Hubahu after 30 episodes
Hubahu, the twin dilemma on Sony Entertainment Television, is packing up.
High costs of production and corresponding low ratings are the primary reason for the series having to wind up as soon it completes 30 episodes on air. The seventeenth episode of the serial, being shot in Bangkok and Mumbai, will be telecast this week.
Producer Parvati Balgopalan admits that the high costs of production are primarily responsible for the serial’s life cycle being clipped, but says that she had anyway planned to limit the serial to a compact 39 to 40 episodes to ensure better viewer interest.
Sources indicate the series cost upwards of half a million rupees an episode; something which Sony was willing to ante up, if the show developed stickiness and generated ratings. But with Hubhau’s ratings not climbing northwards, Sony decided to pull the plug. The series stars Sandhya Mridul, Rajat Kapur and Aly Khan.
In an earlier interview to indiantelevision.com, Hubahu director Nupur Asthana had noted that a story doesn’t hold beyond a point and one has to merely go through the chores in the latter episodes. “That is why I have planned out Hubahu only for 52 episodes”, she had said.
Balgopalan says that she is still in talks with Sony on the exact date when the series will be wound up
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.
