GECs
With TG modified, Sahara gets ‘unreal’ to push new horror show
MUMBAI: It rained ghouls tonight in Mumbai, Lucknow, Delhi and Ahmedabad with 300 ghosts on the prowl as part of the promotions marking the debut of Raat Hone Ko Hai (RHKH ) airing at 8:00 pm tonight on Sahara Manoranjan.Innovative with a capital I. This absolutely bizarre promotional strategy is expected to give the show a lot of mileage in terms of awareness and curiosity. With over 300 spooks spread over four cities, these banshee’s dressed in black all sported a paranormal persona thanks to the “horrifying” masks they were adorning. These men turned lost souls had hit the streets by 7:00 pm tonight.
Apart from this, Sahara also ensured that all the Raat Hone Ko Hai bill boards had ghosts with neon eyes to give it the feel and look that the show propagates. The channel has also tied up with two FM channels; Radio city and Go 92.5 to warn people about the ghosts who are going to be invading the cities and use the punchline of the show ‘Ghar jayo, raat hone ko hai.’
In Mumbai, 50 strategic locations were chosen, with two ghosts allocated per location. Novel marketing and promotional stunts seem to be keeping Sahara on their toes, with their three dimensional show Hello Mr Bhoot all set to launch in August. The channel proposes to distribute 60 million pairs of 3D glasses among homes to ensure optimum pleasure in viewing the show. Now, ‘out of the box’ definitely seems to be the name of their game.
On a related note, RHKH which was initially announced as a daily that was to air from Monday to Thursday at the 11 pm band and the target group (TG) was essentially adults making it inappropriate viewing for kids. The show has suddenly shifted base to the 8:00 pm and is now being marketed as a show targeted at the 4 – 18 age group.
When questioned by indiantelevision.com about this, Sahara’s senior V-P programming Triptii Sharma clarified, “Well yes, earlier it was supposed to be at the 11 pm slot, but our studies revealed that horror as a genre is very popular among kids and hence to amass a universal audience we decided to reassess the situation and change the timing of the show.”
BP Singh, producer-director of the show, had earlier claimed how the show was suitable only for adults and was gory in nature. So there seems to be a contradiction here as to which TG they are really targeting. Speaking to indiantelevision.com he says, “Yes, it was supposed to be a horror show for adults, but finally it is the channel’s call.”
Sharma adds, “The content may have to be diluted and more special effects may have to be incorporated.”
How much of this really true as to the change of the time band, one can only keep guessing. But, one could say that RHKH which was pitched at the 11 pm slot against the popular Kahiin To Hoga on Star Plus seems to have given Sahara cold feet.
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.
