GECs
Zee TV extends early primetime with new show ‘Hello Pratibha’
MUMBAI: Zee TV will be launching a new show called Hello Pratibha. The channel will extend its early primetime from 7 – 8 pm with this show, which is slated to go on air from 27 January.
Five episodes have been canned as of now. The show will be aired from Monday – Saturday at 7.30 pm. This is the first time that the channel is experimenting with its fiction programs extending till Saturday.
Zee TV’s fantasy series Maharakshak Aryan is nearing its end as it was commissioned for 13 episodes. The second story in the trilogy is slated to commence within four-five weeks. Bandhan will continue to air on Saturdays too at 7 pm in place of Maharakshak Aryan. On the other hand, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke show will see curtains down after a two-year long stint with the channel. It will be replaced by Hello Pratibha at 7.30 pm.
Zee TV programming head Namit Sharma says that being a new show, the objective was to give it more exposure and ample room for growth and hence the channel decided to airing it from Monday – Saturday instead of the usual Monday-Friday format.
Produced by Shakuntalam Telefilms, it will celebrate the journey of a woman. The story explores the protagonist’s journey of rediscovering her identity and gaining her lost confidence.
Elaborating on the show, Sharma says, “It’s about everything and yet about nothing. The story is about ‘change’ and the protagonist represents every woman who, post-marriage, prioritises the needs of her family over her own.”
Shakuntalam Telefilms founder and producer Shyamashis Bhattacharya says that the series is not a new concept that is being presented on television, but yet the story-telling is innovative and different.
Bhattacharya believes that Indian audiences have often seen the kitchen politics women face but rarely have television soaps tapped into what a home-maker truly wants for herself.
“Hello Pratibha offers just that – an intimate, up-close and personal look into the mind of a housewife who’s dedicated her life to family. And in the process, lost touch with the girl she once was before she tied the knot. With its differentiated content, the show will connect with thousands of housewives out there and hopefully set them thinking as to whether they should re-connect with who they once were before marriage,” Bhattacharya says.
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.
