GECs

The Anupam Kher Show looks to ramp up viewership further

Published

11 years ago

August 13, 2014

MUMBAI: It is a format that has not been much explored but definitely experimented with by Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs). We are talking about celebrity talk shows with the latest to hit screens being The Anupam Kher Show (TAKS) on Colors.

With TAKS, the genre saw a re-birth. As compared to earlier shows such as Movers and Shakers on Sab, Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai on Zee TV, Issi Ka Naam Zindagi on Star Plus and Koffee With Karan season 4 on Star Plus (repeats), The Anupam Kher Show has been rated highest in terms of viewership for the launch episode. “

According to data provided by the channel, TAKS opened with 2,591 TVTs whereas, Movers and Shakers recorded 2,283 TVTs, Issi Ka Naam Zindagi registered 1,089 TVTs and Koffee With Karan season 4 garnered 738 TVTs.

Media planners say that ‘talk shows’ as yet haven’t been appetizing to Indian audiences. “If we compare these ratings with dailies or even any non-fiction property, they are low on numbers, but we cannot ignore that fact that talk shows are high on interest,” asserts a planner. “It’s good that Colors has taken the step of bringing a personality like Anupam Kher who has acceptability with other big screen names and talent and viewers.”

Colors CEO Raj Nayak feels that it is people’s perception that talk shows don’t get the ratings. “I think with The Anupam Kher Show we have managed to get both perception and ratings. More than an average of 2.4 million people have been watching it week on week which is a very good number for a chat show.”

Unlike on other chat shows where celebrities come to promote their movies, Nayak believes the beauty of ATKS involves no movie integrations and is completely not scripted and sans cue cards. “Most of the people coming on the show are his personal friends and that brings in a lot of intimate moments and there is a feel in the show since it is a free flowing chat where the guest is very comfortable.”

However, even though ATKS gained high in terms of viewership in the launch episode, the ratings have been slipping – abeit marginally in week two and three respectively to 2,360 TVTs and 2,263 TVTs. The fourth episode which featured Kangana Ranaut reported a weak 1,575 TVTs. “That’s because of Queen which aired on Sony Entertainment Television,” says a media observer.

Nayak is not too perturbed about the drop in week four. “We need to watch how TAKS performs over a longer period,” says he. “It is a “different” show which the team and I believe will grow on audiences. In every chat show, there are ups and downs. The ratings we have got for the show are anyway higher than what we had expected. You have to go with the flow and not create sensationalism in a show otherwise it looks scripted.”

He is confident that the upcoming week’s ratings will beat the launch viewership record as well. Channels sources reveal that the coming week’s episode has Kapil Sharma as a guest, and the following ones are slated to feature Varun Dhawan and his father David Dhawan, and Akshay Kumar.

They reveal that the entire advertising inventory has been sold out and TAKS also has roped in Jyothi Laboratories’ Henko as the powered by sponsor.

Planners also believe that overall, talk shows rate below daily shows. Yet they attract a small yet significant set of audience which are relevant to the GECs.

According to a highly placed industry source, the production cost per episode of a chat show is higher than that of the dailies. The reason: the cost of the sets, the host’s fee and other embellishments that come along with celebritydom. “But they have a glamour and buzz factor which a TV show featuring TV stars cannot bring,” says she. “Colors needs to be lauded for once again pushing ahead and working on producing differentiated programming. The show can also have a lot of syndication and distribution potential internationally to audiences which know of Anupam Kher because of his involvement with Hollywood through films like Silver Linings Playbook.“

(updated on 13 August at 5:07 pm)

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GECs

Aparna Ramachandran joins Zee as EVP and head of network digital

Published

1 week ago

January 29, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited has appointed Aparna Ramachandran as EVP and head of network digital, signalling a sharper focus on strengthening its digital and streaming ecosystem.

Ramachandran joins Zee from Balaji Telefilms, where she served as head of digital originals, leading content strategy and production for the company’s digital platforms. She announced the move on LinkedIn, marking a new chapter in her career spanning more than 15 years across media, entertainment and technology.

Her professional journey includes senior roles at Viacom18 Media, Viu, FremantleMedia, Miditech, BigSynergy, BBC Worldwide, CNBC-TV18 and Bloomberg UTV. She began her career in 2005 as a software engineer at Infosys before transitioning into media and digital content leadership.

With experience across streaming media, broadcast television, content development, digital strategy, project management and video production, Ramachandran is expected to play a key role in shaping Zee’s network-wide digital growth and content innovation.

GECs

Zee TV launches on Samsung TV Plus with live German subtitles

Published

1 week ago

January 27, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

London: Zee Entertainment has launched its flagship Zee TV as a live FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, marking a first for South Asian television in Europe with round-the-clock live German subtitles.

The move takes Zee TV beyond its core diaspora audience and into the German-speaking mainstream, offering dramas, reality shows and family entertainment without subscriptions or language barriers. For FAST platforms, it sets a new benchmark in accessibility and scale.

Amit Goenka, president, international and digital businesses at Zee Entertainment, said the launch marked a turning point in the company’s global strategy.

“Zee TV Germany is a flagship launch and a defining moment in our journey to make entertainment truly borderless. By going live on Samsung TV Plus with 24/7 German subtitles, we are breaking language barriers and setting a new international benchmark for FAST streaming,” he said, adding that the partnership reflects Zee’s ambition to lead the FAST revolution through innovation and technology.

The rollout builds on the strong regional presence of Zee One and Zee5, both of which have cultivated loyal audiences across the DACH markets. The live FAST model now closes long-standing access gaps, particularly for younger diaspora viewers and first-time German-speaking audiences.

Samsung TV Plus said the partnership deepens its content portfolio in the region. Benedict Frey, country lead DACH and Benelux at Samsung TV Plus, said the addition strengthens its South Asian offering while widening appeal.
“Launching flagship Zee TV on Samsung TV Plus brings even more premium South Asian entertainment to our customers. Making this content available with live German subtitles is a meaningful step in serving diverse audiences and enriching the viewing experience,” he said.

Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming service, offering hundreds of live channels and on-demand titles across Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices and smart monitors.

Zee already commands a strong digital following across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with social platforms engaging hundreds of thousands of viewers. The live FAST launch is expected to amplify reach and drive appointment viewing at scale.

Zee TV is now available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus in Germany on channel 4210. With this launch, Zee TV Germany becomes the group’s ninth channel in Europe.

The signal is clear: FAST has gone mainstream—and Zee has arrived early, translated and ready to scale.

GECs

Sri Adhikari Brothers officially rebrands itself as Aqylon Nexus

Published

2 weeks ago

January 27, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network has formally adopted a new corporate identity, rechristening itself Aqylon Nexus Limited after receiving clearance from the ministry of corporate affairs.

The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that the MCA has approved the change of name, with effect from January 23, 2026. The update was disclosed in compliance with Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015.

Confirming the approval, the company said the ministry had cleared the transition from Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Limited to Aqylon Nexus Limited following the necessary regulatory process.

Aqylon Nexus said it has begun the formal exercise of replacing the old name across statutory filings and regulatory records. The broadcaster added that it is coordinating with relevant authorities and departments to complete the transition.

Under Section 12 of the Companies Act, 2013, the MCA has directed the company to continue displaying its former name alongside the new one for a period of two years.

Founded in 1994 and based in Mumbai, the company has been a long-standing presence in India’s television and content ecosystem. The rebrand reflects a repositioning effort as the media and entertainment sector undergoes rapid consolidation and structural change.

The legacy name remains on paper—for now. The business, however, is clearly turning the page.