GECs
Zee turns 33 as satellite TV pioneer keeps India’s screens buzzing
MUMBAI: From Zee-ro to hero, India’s private satellite television industry has come a long way since Zee TV first flickered onto screens in 1992. Thirty-three years later, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) is celebrating not just its own journey, but the meteoric rise of an entire industry that now fuels a ~Rs 2.5 trillion economy and supports 2.8 million livelihoods.
Back then, the story began with a single satellite channel. Today, India boasts 908 private satellite channels, 70 plus OTT platforms, nearly 40,000 artists, lyricists and music directors, and more than 3,400 feature films churned out each year, a content explosion that has transformed living rooms and lifestyles alike.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. CEO Punit Goenka marked the occasion with pride, “The journey of ‘Z’ is inseparable from the story of India’s M&E industry. Collectively, we have entertained and empowered our Nation, engaging and inspiring billions of consumers on every screen. Our success over the last 33 years is not defined only by numbers but by the immense value we have generated and the moments of togetherness we’ve created. As pioneers, we view this celebration as a stimulus to power ahead and nurture an ecosystem of creativity and growth.”
Over the decades, Zee has mirrored the M&E sector’s transformation from being a catalyst for authentic, multilingual storytelling to enabling a networked ecosystem spanning TV, film, music, digital, and live entertainment. Its latest move: venturing into short-form content to capture evolving consumer habits.
The industry’s economic footprint is only set to expand. With nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in FDI already attracted and an expected 7 per cent growth to Rs 3.07 trillion by 2027, India’s entertainment sector is being hailed as one of the country’s strongest instruments of soft power.
As Zee celebrates 33 years of keeping audiences glued, its story is more than a corporate milestone, it’s a chapter in how India learned to tell, stream, and scale its stories for the world.
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.
