GECs
Sony’s ‘CID’ looks to target viewers from north India
NEW DELHI: The crime series CID, which has completed a record run of eighteen years on Sony, is now looking at attracting eyeballs from North India. While the show is popular in the western region of the country, the producers are looking at shooting episodes in Delhi for the new segment “CID Mar Mitenge’ with an aim to involve audiences in the rest of the country.
Unlike other crime shows, CID does not take its crime stories from real life incidents and resorts only to fiction.
Producer BP Singh, who brought the concept to Sony, said that the show was meant for family audiences and therefore it did not show any horrific or frightening scenes.
Singh said that contrary to expectations, the shooting in Sangam Vihar in Delhi and inside the famous Delhi Metro went off without a hitch and people were very cooperative. However, the team was unable to shoot in Sadar Bazar and Jama Masjid areas because of a surging crowd. Shooting for the show is also expected to take place in popular places like Dilli Haat, Lajpat Nagar, and Sadar Bazaar.
After Delhi, the series will also have episodes shot in Agra and Mathura. The ‘Mar Mitenge’ episodes will be telecast from 24 to 26 July.
Singh was in the capital along with Shivaji Satham, Dayanand Shetty and Aditya Srivastava who have been with the show from the very beginning and some new entrants.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Singh said that the channel had announced a contest where anyone could send in a murder mystery, which could be made into the series and the winners would be rewarded.
Satham, who enacts ACP Pradyuman, said it was like a dream, working with his team-mates. Shastri, who plays Daya, added that the team of the series had become like a family since they had been working together for so many years.
Sony programming head Ajay Bhalwankar added, “CID was one of the first series in this genre that Indian viewers experienced on the television. It is one of the longest running and the most loved show on the television by the Indian viewers. We have successfully built CID over last 18 years in association with Mr. B P Singh. It is because of the powerhouse performances of Shivaji Satham, Dayanand Shetty and Aditya Srivastava that CID has succeeded in creating waves off screen too.”
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.
