GECs
Star Gold launches hunt for best of Bollywood stars
MUMBAI: With opinion polls being the flavour of the season, Star Gold is all set to usher its own poll -Pepsi Gold Sabse Favourite Kaun?
But there is a twist here, Star’s Hindi movie channel isn’t keen on finding which political leader is leading the poll stakes, but instead wants to know which Hindi star sets the hearts of millions racing.
To launch on 23 April at 8 pm, the show seems to be taking a cue from the 101 series, currently airing on AXN.
Touted as the first opinion poll with an international flavour, PGSFK is not an award based on histrionics, but rates the popularity of a star. Interestingly, the channel has woven in interactivity while inviting viewers to vote and select their favourite actors and upcoming artistes; a factor that may be pivotal in building up the channel’s popularity.
Voting in this poll is not limited to one character or to one film or to any one year. The audience can vote for any star in Bollywood, irrelevant of whether he or she has had any release in the current year.
To be telecast in seven nominee specials, the show will be anchored by Munnabhai MBBS’s Circuit aka Arshad Warsi, who will travel to various cities, talk to film buffs and viewers about their favourite stars, and their ultimate choice. Using Star Plus’ winning strategy of building up interest and holding on to the audience base, the episodes will also have interviews, profiles, celebrity updates and the industry’s opinion followed by a movie dedicated to a nominated actor.
According to Star India senior vice president Deepak Segal, “The show is a a unique concept that not only brings the stars closer to their fans, but also answers a burning question, within the film industry and amongst viewers in general. The difference between this and a viewer’s choice award is that this is not actually a battle between the stars, but between millions of fans of these superstars. Through this show we are also trying to introduce several international elements into the Hindi film industry like Bollywood statistics. All in all, a power-packed show for anyone who loves Bollywood.”
The show wants to tell the fans who is currently the most popular star in Bollywood. The channel will invite the audience to vote in five categories:
Sabse Favourite Hero
Sabse Favourite Heroine
Sabse Favourite Comedian
Sabse Favourite Naya Hero
Sabse Favourite Naya Heroine
Talking about the branding option that the show will provide it, Pepsi Foods’ executive director (marketing) Shashi Kalathil says, “Pepsi has always brought youth closer to their passions – cricket, music and movies. Pepsi Star Gold Sabse Favourite Kaun? is a unique initiative, which makes our consumers feel a part of the magic world of movies. Through this show, Pepsi in its inimitable way gives viewers an opportunity to choose their favourite movie stars.”
While the polling begins from 23 April (first episode), the entry forms will be available in daily newspapers, at select cinema halls or on SMS. In addition, the channel has weaved a contest around the poll, with attractive prizes to be won. Every day, ten lucky winners will get Star merchandise, while one lucky winner, every week, who votes and wins during the episode will be invited to be a part of the final event. The culminating episode, which will be the awards night to be attended by a galaxy of Bollywood and television stars, will have winners walking away with the Pepsi Gold Sabse Favourite trophy.
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.
