GECs
WWE claims excellent response to European tour
MUMBAI: Over the past week for the first time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) history, both Raw and SmackDown! superstars were on simultaneous overseas tours to perform in Europe.
In the UK, over 115,000 fans saw the shows, bought merchandise and met the stars at local retail markets In India WWE action airs on Ten Sports.
Stars performed in Germany, Finland, Italy and the UK. Each tour culminated with the flagship television programs Monday Night Raw and WWE SmackDown! being performed from Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester. This marked the first time that Raw and SmackDown! television programmes have emanated from outside the US and Canada, says an official release.
WWE’s executive VP, global media, Shane McMahon added, “Our fans in the UK and all across Europe are incredible, and are the reason this new dedicated UK initiative is off to a roaring start. Our UK brand initiative is groundbreaking for us, our business partners, and our fans. It is developing the model we plan to use in other countries as we further implement our global expansion strategy.”
In the UK wrestlers appeared on various UK news programmes, and in features in the UK’s largest newspaper The Sun. The tours provided an opportunity for WWE licensees THQ, Jakks, Clearvision, Simon and Schuster, Sony Music and Topps, and primary UK retail partners WHSmith and Woolworths, to promote WWE’s licensed and consumer products in the UK.
The WWE held a cross promotion with The Sun newspaper and Woolworths. This allowed fans to earn tokens for an exclusive WWE DVD that was redeemed by an estimated 180,000 participants.
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.
