GECs
Star Utsav to don a new look
MUMBAI: After more than a decade of its existence, Star Plus’ sibling channel, Star Utsav, is set for a revamp.
Launched in mid 2004, the free-to-air channel, showcases reruns of the old and popular shows which first aired on Star Plus.
Now to engage with the audiences a lot more, the channel will bear a new logo and packaging. Sources within the channel confirmed the news to indiantelevision.com and said, “The new look of the channel will go live on 12 January (Monday) at 7 pm and will be a treat to watch.”
The channel is currently testing its new logo between 2 am – 3 am. The new identity will be parallel to Star’s other channels. The new logo will break out of the box with Star Utsav being written below the brighter and new Star logo.
Another source close to the development revealed that a lot of research was done before finalising the new logo. “The channel went to smaller cities and towns to get an understanding on what the core TG wanted,” said the source.
Sources further reveal that the revamp was in the pipeline for almost a year. “It has been in the planning stage since the channel got former Life OK marketing head Pratik Seal as its business head. But Seal’s stint did not last long with the channel as he decided to move on…” highlighted a source. Seal was replaced by former Star India VP Jyotsna Viriyala as reported first by Indiantelevision.com.
It can be recalled that in 2004, Star Plus was a paid channel and a number of cable operators did not run pay channels in smaller cities. Thus, with an aim to reach out to its desired TG in smaller cities and towns where audiences were not exposed to Star Plus, the network had launched Utsav.
In the week 1 of TAM TV ratings, it delivered 90 million GVTs.
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.
