GECs
UTV comfortably placed on Hungama TV funding
MUMBAI: United Home Entertainment has substantially closed its financial requirement for kids channel Hungama TV and is in no urgency to find equity investors through private placement.
The company has obtained sanctions of Rs 200 million from banks. UTV Software Communications will provide a further Rs 200 million while its promoter Ronnie Screwvala will pump in Rs 50 million.
“We have no pressure on fund requirement for the next 12-18 months. We are not in a hurry to find equity investors,” says UTV director operations and finance Ronald D’mello.
The initial plan was to offload appropriate stake through a private placement at an early stage. Screwvala holds 51 per cent stake in United Home Entertainment while UTV has the balance 49 per cent.
United Home Entertainment plans to invest Rs 750 million over three years. “Out of this amount, Rs 450 million is already arranged. The balance Rs 300 million will be raised from private placement at the appropriate time,” says D’mello.
UTV has also decided to wait for Hungama TV to settle down before launching its initial public offerings (IPO). “By selling our entire 44 per cent stake in Vijay TV, we got Rs 315 million. Our fund requirement is now largely taken care of and we can wait for the IPO till the channel is launched to capture its valuation,” says D’mello.
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.
