GECs
Surya Food Agro begins testing of news, GEC channels
MUMBAI: The general entertainment channel (GEC) space is growing bigger and tougher with the addition of a new player soon. FMCG major Surya Food Agro had announced in 2016 that it wanted to enter the news space with the channel Surya Samachar. Now, the company is looking to foray into the GEC space for the Hindi masses.
Both channels are currently in the testing phase and are likely to be launched soon. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s list of permitted private satellite TV channels shows Surya Samachar and Surya Sagar Entertainment among them. The entertainment channel will show dramas, Hindi movies and reality shows.
Surya Samachar, the Hindi free-to-air (FTA) news channel, started its test transmission from 27 March 2018. Both channels are being beamed off INSAT4A at 83 degrees east and will be available on all major cable TV and pay DTH services.
The most recent addition to the GEC sector was Discovery Networks’ Jeet with its differentiated purpose-driven content. There is no dearth of FTA entertainment channels either with all the big networks having their presence with Star Bharat, Zee Anmol, Rishtey, Sony Pal and Star Utsav.
In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com earlier, Sab and Max cluster senior EVP and business head Neeraj Vyas highlighted that FTA is a growing investment area. “FTA is a zone which is growing and we are looking at a base between 25-30 million homes now. FreeDish is a very important platform to reach out to masses today,” he said.
According to Broadcast Audience Research Council data of week 12, Zee Anmol, Sony Pal, Star Utsav and Star Bharat retained their first, second, third and fourth positions with 629562 impressions (000s), 502663 impressions (000s), 451600 impressions (000s) and 376909 impressions (000s) respectively.
Moreover, Rishtey, Dangal TV, Big Magic, Zee TV and Colors retained their fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth positions respectively with 316857 impressions (000s), 257564 impressions (000s), 233288 impressions (000s), 206741 impressions (000s), 157823 impressions (000s) and 144025 impressions (000s).
FTA channels are in high demand since they cater to a segmented audience. The success of FTA channels is due to DD’s free DTH service FreeDish which has penetrated small towns and rural India. FMCG brands dominate ads on FTA channels with 75-80 per cent of contribution while smartphones, telecom players and two-wheelers have scope too. The channel, if it manages to make a mark, can save advertising cost for PriyaGold and even ensure good reach and revenue with its own channel.
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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.
