GECs
UTV COO Varma quits; Monisha Singh rejoins as VP – TV content
MUMBAI: After a 14 month stint, UTV COO Vikas Varma has put in his papers and is currently serving his notice period. Former UTV creative director Monisha Singh, who put in her papers at the company in July last year, has returned to UTV as vice president – television content.
When contacted by Indiantelevision.com as to the reason for his exit, Varma expresses, “It’s time to move out of production and join the broadcasters. The experience at UTV was a learning curve.”
Varma said he was in conversation with many broadcasters, and is yet to make a final decision.
As COO, Varma was roped in to guide the TV division’s business strategy and operations along with business development.
Prior to UTV, Varma was formerly with Touché Communications as MD and has 16 years of advertising and entertainment expertise both in the brand building and advertising space.
Varma has wide-ranging experience spanning 16 years in advertising and media and has worked with top ad agencies such as Frank Simoes Advertising, Madison Advertising and Touché Communications where he served as MD. He has been instrumental in strategising for and launching a number of durable, FMCG and entertainment brands during the course of his career.
On the other hand, after quitting UTV, Singh joined Miditech as vice president programming and headed the production house’s fiction and entertainment division.
An economics graduate and mass communications post graduate, Singh began her career with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms as a creative director at a time when India’s premier soap factory was still a fledgling production house.
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.
