GECs
Sony to strengthen weekend lineup, begins with ‘Super Dancer’
MUMBAI: The trio that has given Indian television some top of the line dance reality shows is back again with program in the same genre: Super Dancer – Dance Ka Kal. Ashish Golwalker, Ranjeet Thakur and Hemant Ruparel are all set to launch their new kids dance reality show on Sony Entertainment Television. It promises to showcase dance talent from across the country on one national platform and will air from 10 September at 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Produced by Frames Production, Super Dancer will have 12 dance contestants who will get a golden opportunity to compete for the coveted title of India’s top emerging talent. Each finalist will be paired with one notable choreographer in charge of mentoring, understanding and nurturing their strengths, while introducing them to different dance techniques and bringing out the best in them week on week.
To run for 27 episodes over 13 weeks, the production team has already canned four episodes at the time of writing.
According to information available, the per episode production cost of Super Dancer is said to be between Rs 65 and 70lakh per episode and a 10 second TV commercial is being sold at Rs. 1.5 lakh.
The channel has roped in Patanjali Powervita as the presenting sponsor and Quick Heal as co-powered by sponsor.
Super Dancer will be judged by actress Shilpa Shetty, choreographer Geeta Kapur and Bollywood director Anurag Basu. Rithvik Dhanjani and comedian Paritosh Tripathi will host the show.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sony Entertainment Television EVP & business head Danish Khan says: “Sony Entertainment Television has always celebrated talent across India – Indian Idol, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, KBC amongst others. Super Dancer will give a national platform for dancing talents to be nurtured, groomed and honed. We are delighted to have Frames Production Company as our creative partner.”
Khan also announced that Sony will soon launch another season of Indian Idol after a four years hiatus, once Super Dance is over. This will fall in line with the channel’s plan to renew its marquee shows with new seasons.
“With Super Dancer we will have weekend prime time. The talent show will be at 8 pm, comedy at 9 pm followed by the thriller C.I.D at 10 pm and reality show Crime Patrol at 11.30 pm. By October and November we will have a full-fledged weekend line up. Soon after Super Dancer, we will launch Indian Idol season 9.”
Dance Plus on Star Plus, which is also produced by Frames Production, airs at the same time slot as Super Dancer is proposed to be. Will that not impact the ratings of the new show or the older one because of cannibalisation? Frame Production co-founder Ranjeet Thakur does not think so. He explains: “Both the shows are different in their own way. One is a kid’s reality show and the other one is for youngsters. The audiences are different. I believe that Super Dancer will also become a successful show.”
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.
