GECs
JioStar moves SC against CCI probe over alleged abuse in Kerala TV market
MUMBAI: Reliance Industries-owned JioStar has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) probe into alleged abuse of dominance and discriminatory pricing in Kerala’s television distribution market. The appeal follows a 3 December 2025 Kerala High Court order refusing to stay the CCI investigation and directing it to be completed within eight weeks. A bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala is scheduled to hear the matter on 27 January.
The case stems from a complaint by Asianet Digital Network, a major cable and TV distributor in Kerala. Asianet alleges that JioStar holds a dominant position in the state, controlling popular Malayalam entertainment channels and exclusive rights to major sporting events, including the IPL and international cricket. Asianet claims JioStar abused this dominance by offering preferential discounts to rival Kerala Communicators Cable Ltd (KCCL) via separate marketing and promotional agreements, while denying similar terms to other distributors. The arrangement allegedly allowed KCCL to offer cheaper packages, attract subscribers, and gain market share, forcing Asianet to pay higher prices for the same content.
Under TRAI rules, broadcasters can offer discounts of up to 35 per cent and must maintain a non-discriminatory pricing regime. Asianet contends that JioStar’s effective discounts to KCCL exceeded 50 per cent, amounting to a sham to route money and confer a cost advantage.
The CCI found a prima facie case in February 2022 and ordered a detailed investigation. JioStar challenged the probe in court on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that disputes over pricing and contractual terms fall under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the 2017 Broadcasting Regulations. The company also accused Asianet of forum shopping by bypassing TRAI.
A single judge of the Kerala High Court upheld the CCI’s order in May 2025, ruling that competition law can coexist with sectoral regulation and that JioStar could raise objections during the inquiry. A division bench dismissed JioStar’s appeal on 3 December 2025, prompting the company to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
JioStar was formed in November 2024 after Reliance merged its media business with Walt Disney Company’s India operations in a deal valued at $8.5 billion, bringing together Viacom18, JioCinema, Star India and Disney+ Hotstar. Reliance holds a 63 per cent controlling stake, with Disney owning 36.84 per cent.
According to JustWatch data for April–June 2025, JioStar’s JioHotstar led India’s subscription video-on-demand market with a 25 per cent share, followed by Amazon Prime Video (23 per cent), Netflix (19 per cent), Apple TV+ (14 per cent), ZEE5 (10 per cent), Sony LIV (5 per cent), with other platforms at 4 per cent. Email queries to Reliance for comment went unanswered.
With its Supreme Court challenge, JioStar is now taking the fight over Kerala’s TV market to the highest court, testing the limits of regulatory oversight and raising questions about dominance in a newly consolidated media landscape.
GECs
Aparna Ramachandran joins Zee as EVP and head of network digital
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
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
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.
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