GECs
Zeel licenses home-grown format ‘DID’ to Thailand’s broadcaster
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has created a broadcast history by finalizing a syndication deal with JKN Global Media Limited Thailand for its home-grown format, Dance India Dance (DID).
It is a known fact that prime-time content in India has been laced with popular international formats, which are regularly imported and licensed by Indian TV channels from international broadcasters, production houses or format owners.
While Indian content being aired or repurposed on TV channels across the world is quite common, this particular syndication deal is a landmark achievement since it’s the very first time that a format created in India has been licensed internationally. The Indian content industry’s contribution to ‘Make in India’, literally.
Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “At Zee, we have always believed in developing in-house formats. It was our belief in the concept of Dance India Dance that led to its growth from the regional to the international platform. Through this partnership with JKN Global Media Limited, DID will not only reach out to the South-Asian diaspora but the local, mainstream audiences in Thailand as well.”
“Going forward, we hope to license not just Dance India Dance but our other home-grown formats to the international markets,” Goenka added.
Commenting on the partnership, JKN Global Media Thailand MD Andrew Suteestarpon said, “I’m very pleased to develop the well-known format show called Dance India Dance into the local version. With the collaboration of Zee, I strongly believe in the professional team and the corporate experience that can lead JKN Channel into achieving a high success rating with Dance Thailand Dance.”
Zeel global head syndication Sunita Uchil added, “We are very proud that our home-grown format Dance India Dance will now reach 22 million homes in Thailand through JKN Channel. Over the years, there has been an increasing demand for Indian content and we have endeavored to meet this demand by offering a wide array of entertainment content through customized services like dubbing and subtitling in foreign languages under the Zee Bollyworld umbrella. This deal embraces our global positioning of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is My Family’ and reinforces Zee Bollyworld’s leadership as the ‘one-stop shop for Indian entertainment content the world over.’”
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.
