GECs
Star serves notice to switch off service to Hathway
MUMBAI: Star India on Tuesday served a one-month notice to Hathway Cable & Datacom threatening to disconnect its channels if outstanding dues are not cleared.
The channels within the network that Star has threatened to de-link from Hathway include Star Plus, Star Movies, Star World, Star Gold, Star News, Utsav, Star One, Vijay TV, National Geographic Channel, The History Channel, Channel [V], Hungama TV and the two Walt Disney channels – Toon Disney and The Disney Channel.
A point of note: five years after the Star Group acquired a 26 per cent stake in Rajan Raheja-promoted Hathway Cable & Datacom, the first public face off between the two partners is out in the open.
“There is an outstanding which Hathway owes us as per the contract. We have issued them a notice as per the regulation prescribed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India,” says a Star India spokesperson.
Hathway, however, states the dues to Star India are in the normal course of business credit period. “The essential problem is only with respect to the new pay channel bouquet like Hungama TV and the Disney channels. The problem with the new pay channels is that the customers are not willing to pay additional money. The dispute is due to the customer resistance to the new pay channels,” the company says in a release.
Star’s second bouquet, priced at Rs 22 a month per subscriber, includes Star One, Hungama TV and the two Disney channels.
Hathway has “no dispute” or “outstanding” except in relation to “normal trade credit,” the release adds. “We do not want the customers to be burdened with additional amounts for new pay channels which most of them do not want to watch.”
It may be recalled that Star India on 7 May discontinued, due to non payment of dues, service of its bouquet of channels to Asianet Satellite Communications, a company entirely held by Raheja which is the dominant multi system operator in Kerala.
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.
