GECs
Star launches campaign with celebs to drive donations for Nepal & N. India
MUMBAI: Star India has launched a nationwide public service campaign ‘Ek Padosi Hi Padosi Ke Kaam Aata Hai’ with the NGO CARE India to mobilise relief for the natural disaster that struck Nepal and parts of northern India claiming more than 5,000 lives.
A massive earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck Nepal on 25 April, 2015, the worst to hit the Himalayan Kingdom in 80 years. In India, states of Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have also suffered the wrath of the earthquake.
The Star India campaign will involve Bollywood celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Anushka Sharma, Preity Zinta and a host of Star network’s icons, who will appeal to Indians for donations, which will be channeled directly to CARE India. Viewers will have an option to donate online, or through cheques or demand drafts. The campaign will work along the lines of Operation Maitri, initiated by the Indian government.
“A tragedy has struck our neighbouring country resulting in a devastating loss of life, infrastructure and resources. We believe it is our responsibility to leverage the power of television as a force for good to help mobilise relief and provide immediate life-saving assistance to those affected. We are happy to associate with CARE India, an NGO highly respected for its humanitarian and development work in India and extremely humbled to see that our initiative has been embraced by some of the leading lights of the entertainment industry to appeal for relief,” said Star India CEO Uday Shankar.
CARE India is assessing the situation on the ground in all the affected areas of Nepal and moving relief material where it is needed most. CARE has begun distribution in some of the areas and hopes to reach out to more than 50,000 people in the coming days.
“We would appeal to all Indians for funds to ramp up the emergency response and provide immediate life-saving assistance to those affected. We are thankful to Star India for helping us raise funds for Nepal where millions are awaiting humanitarian relief. The country is running out of food, water and shelter and the onus is now on us to help them,” added CARE India board chair Dr. Nachiket Mor.
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.
