GECs
Cricket with the tadka of a daily soap
MUMBAI: Whether it was being the first satellite channel to launch in India in 1992 or introducing non-fiction formats of singing & dancing talent hunt shows or producing fiction shows that addressed social issues in a poignant manner, Zee TV has been a pioneer in the Hindi GEC space, setting trends for competition to follow. The channel has also led the way in the marketing domain with path-breaking innovations such as the first-of-its-kind on-ground shaadi of the leads of its primetime show ‘Pavitra Rishta’, inviting the masses to bless Manav-Archana as they tied the nuptial knot. The channel further went on introduce the phenomenon of Mahasangams that captured an exciting interplay between the ongoing tracks and the actors of two of its shows. After setting several such precedents, Zee TV is all set to achieve yet another first on Indian television with its exciting new property – Zee 20 Cricket League.
For India, Cricket is a passion. A celebration. A religion. And…your favorite families on television are all set to bring you the most entertaining cricket tournament of this season! In an exciting coup, Zee TV will have the most sought-after actors from all its primetime shows come together on a cricket field, be split into two teams led by Raj (Mishkat Varma) and Samarth (Navi Bhangu), the protagonists of its show ‘Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya’ and battle it out in a nail-biting 20-over match packed with high-voltage drama. The man who wins the match will walk away with the heroine Avani! With half of your favorite stars backing Raj and the other half rooting for Samarth, wonder who will win the Zee 20 Cricket League and walk away with the girl? To find out, watch this cricket tournament with the tadka of family entertainment on 24th and 25th May at 6:30 PM on Zee TV.
So, who’s on whose team, you ask? Raj’s team is called Raj Ke Challengers and includes Mrunal Thakur (Bulbul of Kumkum Bhagya), Ankit Gera (Mayank of Sapne Suhaane Ladakpan Ke), Neha Marda (Urmi of Doli Armaanon Ki), Arhaan Behl (Raghu of do Dil Bandhe Is Dori se), Baburam of Do Dil Bandhe Is Dori se and Ashish Chowdhry (who plays Raghav in Ek Muthi Aasman). Samarth’s team called Samarth ke Daredevils includes Shabbir Ahluwalia (Abhi of Kumkum Bhagya), Rachana Parulekar (Kalpi of Ek Muthi Aasman), Roopal tyagi (Gunjan of Sapne Suhaane Ladakpan Ke), Mohit Malik (Samrat of Doli Armaanon Ki), Supriya Shukla (Sarla of Kumkum Bhagya) and Aahil of Qubool Hai. Watching your favorite stars in stylish cricket jerseys instead of their usual looks will be a delightful treat for every viewer!
Zee TV Programming Head Namit Sharma said, “The Cricket fever is at its peak at the moment. Television audiences in India love their stars, the drama surrounding their lives and they love Cricket. What we have in store for them is a double whammy of drama and Cricket with some of their most favorite faces on television playing their favorite sport. This is the first time ever that a Hindi GEC has managed to assemble the most popular stars from all its shows and get them to play a 20-over match. The game will be peppered with interesting twists and turns that blend seamlessly into the ongoing tracks of each of our shows. There will be so many interesting aspects such as the commentary, performances by cheerleaders, locker-room dynamics between the characters that form a team, issues like cheating, sabotage & match fixing. Each of our actors will be completely in character. The entire drama of Zee TV’s most popular shows will unfold against the canvas of India’s favorite sport and we’re certain that the audience will relish this most entertaining spectacle!”
The pretty young girls of every show – Pooki of Ek Muthi Aasman, Pari of Pavitra Rishta, Shivani of Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se, Payal of Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, Aalia of Kumkum Bhagya and Shazia of Qubool Hai will doll up as the cheerleaders and do a lively routine to motivate and charge up their respective teams. With comedian Suresh Menon donning multiple avatars ranging from Amitabh Bachchan to Sachin Tendulkar to … hold your breath, Usha Nadkarni’s character of Savita Tai from Pavitra Rishta, audience is bound to be in splits!
Do not miss the Zee 20 Cricket League on 24th and 25th May at 6:30 PM on Zee TV!
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.
