ITV

Category: GECs

  • Zee rolls out R.I.S.E to woo marketers and scale brand game

    Zee rolls out R.I.S.E to woo marketers and scale brand game

    MUMBAI: With a new promise – “We’ll earn your media business by growing your real business” – Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has fired up its latest marketing juggernaut: R.I.S.E, shorthand for Results | Integration | Strategy | Engagement. The showstopper initiative kicked off with a glitzy launch in Mumbai on Friday and now hits the road to Delhi (18 July), Bengaluru (23 July), Chennai (25 July), and Kolkata (28 July).

    Touted as a results-first, omnichannel flex, R.I.S.E is Zee’s bid to shake up brand building in a cluttered market. The media behemoth pulled out all the stops at the inaugural edition, showcasing its full-stack advertising muscle — from 41 broadcast channels and ZEE5 to its YouTube sprawl, regional IPs, influencer network, and social play. In short, if a screen can light up, Zee wants your brand on it.

    This isn’t just another sizzle reel. Zee is betting big on tech-powered storytelling that marries data, AI, and content to deliver campaigns that actually move the needle. “It’s time media stops being a vanity metric,” quipped one insider. “We’re here to build real business outcomes.”

    Speaking on the launch, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. chief growth officee Ashish Sehgal said: “ZEE is the only platform that offers a full-funnel ecosystem, spanning from awareness to action and from mass to hyperlocal reach, with a philosophy that we are here to sell “Growth”. We have brought all our platforms together – broadcast, OTT, Digital video, Influencers, Music, Ground- so that every rupee spent is scalable & smart.”

    R.I.S.E has been imagined as a convergence zone for marketers, founders, VCs, and retail players. Panels deep-dived into brand-building in turbulent times, using integrated media to scale regional footprints, and how to link venture capital with the next-gen D2C wave.

    As the caravan rolls on to India’s top metros, the message is loud and clear: storytelling is sexy, but conversions are king.

  • Zee shareholders reject preferential issue of fully converible warrants to promoter group

    Zee shareholders reject preferential issue of fully converible warrants to promoter group

    MUMBAI: Minority shareholders of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) have voted against a proposal to issue fully convertible warrants to promoter group entities on a preferential basis. The special resolution, proposed at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on 10 July 2025, failed to secure the necessary majority.

    The EGM, chaired by R Gopalan, commenced at 11:00 a.m. IST and concluded at 12:25 p.m. IST. The company had provided both remote e-voting and e-voting facilities during the meeting for its shareholders.

    According to the scrutinizer’s report, 59.5140 per cent of the total valid votes cast were in favour of the resolution, while 40.4860 per cent were against it. For a special resolution to pass, the votes cast in favour must be at least three times the votes cast against it. As this condition was not met, the resolution failed.

    A company spokesperson for Zeel acknowledged the outcome, noting that 60 per cent of participating shareholders supported the resolution and expressed gratitude for their backing. The spokesperson also stated that the board and management respect the decision of the remaining shareholders and remain focused on maximising and safeguarding shareholder value.

    The company highlighted its ongoing efforts to improve performance and profitability, particularly in boosting margin profile and reducing losses within the digital segment. Zeel intends to continue leveraging its cash reserves and entrepreneurial spirit to build a strong foundation, address market shifts, and outperform competition. The board’s guidance will further fortify the company against unforeseen events and drive growth and investment in technology and innovation.

    The total number of shareholders on the cut-off date (3 July 2025) was 653,378. A total of nine promoter and promoter group shareholders and 114 public shareholders attended the meeting via video conferencing/other audio-visual means. The resolution involved the “issue of fully convertible warrants to the promoter group entities on preferential basis.”

  • Z shareholders back new board appointments

    Z shareholders back new board appointments

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (Z) today announced that its shareholders have decisively approved the appointments of advertising professional  Divya Karani as an independent director and Saurav Adhikari as a non-executive director to the company’s board. The endorsement, secured through a remote e-voting postal ballot that concluded today, reflects strong shareholder confidence in the board’s ability to drive value creation and foster robust growth.

    The company’s strategic vision includes enhancing board guidance and strengthening its governance framework. The inclusion of highly experienced individuals from diverse sectors is central to this approach, a company press release states. Karani and adhikari are expected to provide comprehensive guidance to the management team, ensuring effective execution of the strategic growth plan.

    Karani brings over three decades of experience in the advertising and media sectors, notably as the chief executive of dentsu media, south Asia. Her insights are anticipated to be invaluable for advertising revenue. Adhikari, with more than 30 years of expertise in global technology, fast-moving consumer goods, and consumer durables, will contribute significantly from an operations and investment perspective. He is the founder and senior partner at Indus Tech Edge Fund I.

    Z chairman R. Gopalan expressed gratitude to shareholders, highlighting the “sharp business acumen” and “creative expertise” that the two directors will bring to the board. He reiterated  that they  will only strengthen “the  board’s directional guidance to the management team as the company progresses towards the targeted aspirations. We remain committed towards fortifying Z and maximizing shareholder value, through all our decisions.”

  • Zee gets Glass Lewis nod for Rs2,237 crore promoter warrant issue

    Zee gets Glass Lewis nod for Rs2,237 crore promoter warrant issue

    MUMBAI: Global proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis has thrown its weight behind Zee Entertainment’s plan to issue up to 169.5 million convertible warrants to its promoter group, giving the broadcaster a crucial endorsement ahead of its 10 July EGM. The deal, priced at Rs132 per warrant, could fetch Zee a much-needed Rs2,237 crore war chest.

    The preferential allotment—to Sunbright Mauritius Investments and Altilis Technologies, both part of Zee’s promoter stable—will see a 25 per cent upfront payment, with the balance due within 18 months. The warrants convert into equity on a 1:1 basis and would dilute existing share capital by about 15 per cent, which Glass Lewis termed “reasonable.”

    The firm said the proposal clears Sebi’s rulebook on pricing and fairness and raised no governance red flags. Zee says the funds will back strategic expansion, bolster liquidity in an increasingly brutal media market, and fund acquisitions in high-growth niches.

    Despite lacklustre stock performance—down 28.4 per cent over the past year and 29.7 per cent over three—Zee has retained a solid ESG profile. Sustainalytics rates its ESG risk as low, while ESG Book places it in the 90th percentile for governance among broadcasters.

    But the proxy adviser flagged one weak link: cybersecurity. BitSight ranks Zee in the bottom five per cent of the entertainment sector. Although the firm has had no major data breaches in 18 months, its digital ramp-up puts it at risk, Glass Lewis warned.

    Public shareholders hold more than 95 per cent of Zee’s equity. Big names include Sprucegrove (5 per cent), LIC (4.63 per cent), and Norges Bank (3.95 per cent), with support from mutual funds and institutions likely to be decisive.

    The EGM will be held virtually, and the record date was 3 July. If passed, the resolution would help Zee reset its balance sheet and fire up its strategic ambitions in streaming and beyond.

  • APOS 2025: JioStar reboots Indian storytelling: bold themes, small-town creators, and a Gen Z gold rush

    APOS 2025: JioStar reboots Indian storytelling: bold themes, small-town creators, and a Gen Z gold rush

    Bali: India’s entertainment juggernaut JioStar is rewriting the playbook for streaming success. Speaking  on Day one with MPA founder & executive director Vivek Couto at the Asia Pacific Video Operators Summit (APOS) in Bali, president, general entertainment Alok Jain and head of cluster – entertainment (south) Krishnan Kutty laid out a turbocharged strategy rooted in youth, cultural authenticity, and fearless innovation.

    Kutty didn’t mince words. “Streamers haven’t done enough for Gen Z,” he said, announcing plans to ramp up youth programming in the south by seven to ten times. “Today’s boldness isn’t about spectacle — it’s about challenging societal norms. But we’re not in California. This has to be rooted in India.”

    Jain backed it up with numbers and narrative. Thukra Ke Mera Pyaar, a 19-episode romantic drama with 50-minute episodes and a debut director, shattered expectations. “The audience embraced it because it felt fresh, not because of familiar faces,” he said. “Innovation isn’t just a tactic — it’s our baseline.”

    The pair’s APOS session, titled Inside the next wave of Indian storytelling, was a no-holds-barred manifesto for resetting the country’s content economy. “We’re not here to gatekeep,” said Jain. “Today’s creators are format-agnostic — moving from Instagram Reels to primetime drama to long-form docu. We want to build a creative ecosystem where they grow across mediums.”

    Kutty spotlighted small-town storytellers as the engine of this shift. “We’re backing young creators from Tirunelveli to Kochi who bring lived-in authenticity. Eighty per cent of our Malayalam content consumption comes from outside Kerala. Great stories transcend language and geography — that’s our sweet spot.”

    The duo also called out industry dysfunction. “Streaming has broken the economic model,” Kutty said. 
    “Producers have become B2B vendors serving platforms, not audiences. Talent and production costs have soared. We need a reset.”

    On the theatrical front, Jain was blunt. “Three-hour films don’t cut it in an age of 15-second videos. People only show up at cinemas for something really worth their time. Theatres need to reinvent — on price, experience, everything.”

    India’s scale, youth and appetite for change were central to JioStar’s bullish outlook. With over 300M subscribers on JioHotstar and 800M viewers across its TV network, JioStar sits atop 320,000  hours of content in 22 languages. “The only common thread?” said Jain. “Emotional truth. That’s what travels.”

    From microdramas to macro themes like justice and aspiration, the message from JioStar is clear: in a country bursting with creators, languages, and formats, the only limit is imagination.

  • Zee UK blazes ahead with bold bets, beats rivals at their own game

    Zee UK blazes ahead with bold bets, beats rivals at their own game

    LONDON: Zee Entertainment UK isn’t just keeping up with the times—it’s running laps around its rivals. While other broadcasters are stuck in planning mode, Zee is executing at full throttle across platforms, markets and formats, setting a relentless pace for innovation in south Asian media.

    Zee Cinema has been clocking consistently high monthly reach in the UK, overtaking legacy players like Star Utsav. But resting on its laurels? 

    It’s not Zee’s style. 

    “Success is not a destination, it is a catalyst for the next leap forward,” said Zee TV territory head for the UK and Europe Parul Goel. His team is reshaping the game, not just playing it.

    Zee’s forward thinking approach has made it a model for others globally. From launching Zee One in Germany to pioneering Fast channels in France and the UK, Zee is rolling out initiatives that others are still workshopping. It was first to bring an Indian GEC—&TV—to the Fast ecosystem, and the first to dub Indian content in German, with Shah Rukh Khan himself launching it.

    It’s also made bolder plays outside the box: launching Europe’s first-ever cricket Fast pop-up channel with live ILT20 season 3 coverage, pulling off a multi-platform crossover of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Rewind: Queens of the 90s at Wembley Arena, and rolling out contextual advertising in the UK to boost engagement and brand ROI.
    With a 30-year head start, Zee’s legacy is already studded with milestones—like the UK’s first South Asian film awards in 2005 (ZCA), exclusive stage productions like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at Manchester Opera House, and a track record of being the first sponsor behind major Bollywood concerts.

    Now it’s breaking new ground in streaming. Z5 has introduced the first-ever south Asian SVoD tier with ads in the UK and Europe, aggressively priced for reach. Behind the scenes, AI-led content workflows for Fast have helped Zee cut costs while maintaining its hallmark production quality.

    Even industry peers, in marking Zee’s 30th anniversary, have admitted there’s simply no one better at pushing boundaries. 

    As Goel puts it: “Zee has always been a network of firsts not just in India, but across global markets. While others prepare, we deliver. We’re not just adapting to change, we are leading it.” These words echo through every bold step the network takes.

    As the media landscape continues to evolve, Zee UK remains committed to doing what it has always done best: leading with purpose, innovating with conviction, and delivering with consistency.

    With strategy in its veins and speed as its weapon, Zee UK isn’t just a player in the south Asian broadcasting space. It’s writing the future.

  • Ruhee Das appointed marketing director at Sony Pictures Entertainment

    Ruhee Das appointed marketing director at Sony Pictures Entertainment

    MUMBAI:  Ruhee Das, a prominent figure in the Indian media and entertainment sector, has been named marketing director at Sony Pictures Entertainment, effective June 2025. This promotion comes after a distinguished tenure of six years and ten months as marketing lead at Sony Pictures Television.

    In her previous role as marketing lead, Das was instrumental in promoting Hollywood films and TV series from Sony Pictures across a diverse range of content platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, Sony LIV, and various television channels like Colors Infinity and &Flix. Her responsibilities encompassed ideating, planning, strategising, and executing comprehensive marketing campaigns across digital, on-air, on-ground, outdoor, and print mediums. She also focused on building strong press coverage for Sony titles, securing talent interviews, and driving performance marketing for Sony Pictures Entertainment India’s social media presence. Furthermore, Das oversaw the content monetisation of Sony Pictures’ movies and TV shows on YouTube.

    Before her extensive career at Sony, Das held key marketing positions at Viacom18 Media Private Ltd for nearly four years. As marketing lead – consumer products from April 2017 to September 2018, she spearheaded the marketing efforts to extend popular brands such as MTV, Colors, and Nickelodeon into consumer products, overseeing successful BTL and ATL campaigns and 360-degree marketing strategies. Prior to this, she served as assistant manager (marketing) – consumer products at Viacom18, focusing on MTV Consumer Products.

    Her earlier experience includes a year as senior officer – revenue at Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (The Times Group), where she was responsible for revenue generation through media sales and brand integration for the TV channel Romedy Now. She also held marketing roles at Propellum and Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., and completed internships at Abbott and Business Standard.

    Das’s wealth of experience in content marketing, social media, and business strategy positions her to drive significant growth for Sony Pictures Entertainment in the South Asian market.

  • Netflix inks landmark deal to host TF1 channels in France

    Netflix inks landmark deal to host TF1 channels in France

    MUMBAI: In a groundbreaking move poised to reshape France’s television landscape, Netflix has announced a landmark partnership with major French broadcaster TF1. From the summer of 2026, Netflix subscribers across France will gain direct access to TF1 Group’s live channels and extensive on-demand content, all seamlessly integrated into their existing Netflix subscription. This “first-of-its-kind partnership,” unveiled at the Cannes Lions advertising conference, signals a significant strategic shift for both media giants.

    The deal will see Netflix members in France able to stream TF1’s five free-to-air linear television channels — TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films, and LCI — directly through the Netflix platform. This unprecedented integration also includes access to over 30,000 hours of on-demand content from TF1+, the broadcaster’s own streaming service. Viewers will no longer need to switch between apps to catch popular French dramas like Broceliande and Demain nous appartient,  entertainment staples such as The Voice, or even major live sporting events featuring France’s national football and basketball teams.

    For Netflix, this collaboration is a clear step towards becoming a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” for television audiences globally. Netflix co-chief executive Greg Peters highlighted the synergy, stating the deal “plays to our strengths of giving audiences the best entertainment alongside the best discovery experience.”

    By teaming up with France’s leading broadcaster, Netflix aims to provide “even more reasons to come to Netflix every day and to stay with us for all their entertainment.” The move is particularly astute given France’s stringent regulatory requirements that mandate international streaming platforms invest in and contribute to local content production.

    Conversely, for TF1, whose chief executive Rodolphe Belmer expressed his delight, the alliance represents a crucial opportunity to expand its digital footprint and unlock new avenues for advertisers in an increasingly fragmented viewing market. TF1 currently reaches 58 million monthly viewers via its broadcast channels and serves 35 million users on its TF1+ streaming service. 

    Belmer emphasised that the partnership would allow TF1’s “premium content to reach unparalleled audiences and unlock new reach for advertisers within an ecosystem that perfectly complements our TF1+ platform.” While TF1+ remains central to its strategy, the Netflix integration is seen as “truly complementary,” with internal analyses predicting a “significantly net positive” business effect.

    Peters and Belmer flew into the picturesque French Riviera town of Cannes to make the announcement. 

    The financial terms remain undisclosed, but industry observers suggest it could serve as a global blueprint for similar arrangements as Netflix seeks to deepen its power over traditional broadcasters. This development comes at a pivotal time for Netflix, which in April 2025 saw co-chief executive Ted Sarandos announce an ambitious target of reaching a $1 trillion market capitalisation. 

    However, the company has also faced recent headwinds, including subscriber backlash following price increases in several countries and a slowdown in growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Integrating content from popular free-to-air broadcasters like TF1 could provide a fresh impetus for subscriber acquisition and retention.

    The partnership is not entirely new territory for TF1 and Netflix, who have previously collaborated on successful co-productions such as Les Combattantes, L’Agence, and Tout le bleu du ciel. This deepening of ties underscores a growing trend of convergence between traditional media and streaming giants, as both adapt to evolving consumer habits that increasingly favour on-demand consumption. The ability to watch a diverse range of content, from scripted dramas to live sports, all within a single interface, marks a significant evolution in the streaming warS.

  • Sony’s India reboot: fresh faces, big bucks and a bold digital bet

    Sony’s India reboot: fresh faces, big bucks and a bold digital bet

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is doubling down on India, rebooting its strategy under new leadership and betting big on digital, cricket and content to reclaim lost ground in the subcontinent’s fast-evolving media landscape.

    Speaking at SPE’s annual presentation, chief executive Ravi Ahuja described India as a “tremendous opportunity” amid the country’s strong economic and population growth. The rejig came more than a year after the collapse of Sony’s much-hyped merger with Zee Entertainment.

    At the heart of the reshuffle is Gaurav Banerjee, former Star India top content boss, now managing director and chief executive of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)— Culver Max Entertainment.

    Banerjee’s mandate: fix the fiction, fire up streaming, and sharpen Sony’s distribution game.

    SPNI, which runs 27 TV channels and the SonyLiv platform, reported Rs 839 crore in profit on Rs 6,510 crore revenue in FY24. The company is now funnelling fresh investments into digital, particularly SonyLiv, as part of a broader growth revival.

    “We are rebuilding and reorienting our growth strategy, including investment in digital and our Sony LIV streaming platform,” said Ahuja. “We recently secured exclusive media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments from 2024 to 2031, which we anticipate will boost viewership and enhance Sony LIV.”

    The sticker price:  $170 million. It also shelled out $200–250 million for the England and Wales Cricket Board rights, sub-licensing the digital India tour rights to JioHotstar but retaining TV control. But there’s a wrinkle: the upcoming Asia Cup in September may be under threat due to rising India–Pakistan tensions post the Pahalgam terror strike.

    Meanwhile, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is in revamp mode. The channel, battling ratings pressure in fiction, is reloading its primetime slate with a rebooted Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, mythologicals like Prithviraj Chauhan and Shirdi Wale Sai Baba, and the upcoming thriller Aami Dakini. Tentpoles like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Shark Tank India and Indian Idol continue to anchor the lineup. SET also remains a YouTube juggernaut, with 184 million subscribers—ranking fourth globally.

    Globally, SPE posted sales of $9.9 billion and operating income of $774 million despite the Hollywood strike denting series output and SPNI dragging on profits.

    Sony may have dropped its  Zee alliance, but with a rejigged team, fresh IP, and digital firepower, its India innings appears to be just getting into super scoring mode. With both Ahuja and Banerjee  fresh at the crease and gradually getting their shots right, SET might well hit it out of the park this time.

  • Colors Kannada gets a mythic makeover for its 10th birthday

    Colors Kannada gets a mythic makeover for its 10th birthday

    MUMBAI: Colors Kannada has turned ten – and it’s celebrating not with cake, but with culture. The channel has just rolled out a bold new visual identity that’s dripping with Karnataka’s rich heritage, from mythical birds to temple elephants and theatrical epics.

    Commenting on the rebranding, a JioStar spokesperson said, “Colors Kannada has always belonged to the people of Karnataka and our new identity is an ode to that bond. As we step into a new decade, this reimagining reflects our pride in where we come from and our promise to stay rooted even as we evolve. It honours our shared cultural legacy and embraces the creative energy of the present.”

    The revamp fuses tradition with a touch of 2025 swagger. Think vibrant colours, reimagined motifs, and on-air packaging that nods to the state’s soul while keeping things crisp and contemporary.

    At the heart of this identity refresh are three powerful cultural totems:

    ●    Gandabherunda, the legendary two-headed bird of the Mysore royal crest, stands tall for strength, vision, and legacy.

    ●    The Elephant, echoing the pomp of Dasara’s Jumbo Savari and the stone sentinels of Hoysala temples, brings wisdom and grandeur.

    ●    And Yakshagana, Karnataka’s own operatic powerhouse, injects the drama, rhythm, and colour of round-the-clock storytelling.

    This isn’t just surface shine. Every frame and flourish in the new design speaks to the pulse of Karnataka — its myths, memory, and modern pride. It’s a love letter to the viewers who’ve stayed glued to its serials, shows, and spectacles for a decade.

    For Colors Kannada, this isn’t just a rebrand — it’s a rebirth. One that doesn’t just look good on screen but feels right at home in the hearts of Kannadigas.