GECs
Sushma for ceiling on entertainment tax
The lack of standardisation of entertainment tax as applied in various parts of the country has been a sore point for a long time now. This looks set to change if information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj is to be believed.
“The government is keen to bring about a rationalisation of entertainment tax,” Swaraj told the Economic Times on Friday.
If what she says comes true it will be welcomed with relief in the film industry especially which has been asking for precisely this for a number of years now. Entertainment tax ranges from around 14 per cent to more than 100 per depending on the state. In India, entertainment tax is a state subject which is why rates vary from state to state.
Swaraj said the issue would be high on the agenda of the state information ministers conference being held in the capital on Sunday. Swaraj said the Central government would try to bring about a consensus among states for putting in place a ceiling for entertainment tax.
While cinema has been at the centre of the debate about entertainment tax, the cable industry would be also very interested in the developments because they have also been raising similar arguments.
Cable operators have been up in arms in the western state of Maharashtra for a year now following the doubling of entertainment tax there to 30 per cent last year.
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.
