GECs
ZEE Entertainment Board comes out in support of former directors Ashok Kurien & Manish Chokhani
Mumbai: The Board of Directors of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) on Thursday came out in support of two of its former non-executive directors, Ashok Kurien and Manish Chokhani amid “allegations made by certain proxy advisory firms” against them.
Both Kurien and Chokhani had submitted their resignations to the Board earlier this week. The decision came at a time when two of ZEEL’s top investors – Invesco Developing Markets Fund and OFI Global China Fund LLC – which together hold around 18 percent of the stake in the company, sent a special notice demanding the removal of Punit Goenka, Manish Chokhani, and Ashok Kurien as directors in an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
In its media statement, the Board stated that it strongly condemns the allegations made against its former members, who had decided to step down from the Board due to their personal reasons and to pursue their interests beyond the confines of a boardroom.
“Speculations disparaging the contribution of the said non-executive directors of the Company are baseless and arise out of an inadequate understanding of the industry. Decisions taken by committee members and the Board of Directors of the Company are being wrongly attributed to individual directors without any basis,” stated the Board. “ZEE is immensely grateful to both Kurien and Chokhani for their contribution towards the Company. Their guidance to the leadership team has been valuable, enabling ZEE to touch newer heights and deliver greater value to all its stakeholders year on year.”
The Board also highlighted that the interest of the shareholders has always been paramount for the Company under their mentorship, and it remains committed to maintain the highest standards of governance and transparency.
ZEEL chairman R Gopalan said, “As someone who sowed the seeds of ZEE, Kurien played a key role in steering the Company to newer heights with his contribution arising out of deep understanding and knowledge of the Media Industry. His vast expertise of 35 years in the industry has been instrumental in building ZEE as a leading entertainment brand and a creative content company not only in India but across the globe. As one of India’s most respected financial experts and investors, Chokhani’s astute management skills coupled with his analytical abilities have been of tremendous value to the Board. Chokhani has always been steadfast in his support towards ZEE and has guided the leadership team to higher success by setting new standards of performance excellence.”
The Board also lauded their contribution in the overall process of Board reconstitution, with the induction of eminent Independent directors. “The reconstituted Board will continue to ensure highest compliance practices and governance and set the benchmark for management accountability and transparency to further enhance the value of the Company” read the statement.
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.
