GECs

PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

Published

9 years ago

October 20, 2016

MUMBAI: 21 October, 15:00 hours is going to be a landmark day in the history of south Asian media and entertainment. Reason: that’s the day when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into effect.

The authority’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. Most TV and FM Radio channels air substantial amount of Indian content, sometimes going up to as much as 50-60 per cent. That was trimmed down to six per cent following the Pakistan crackdown in September, when the old regulation promulgated during General Pervez Musharaff’s reign was activated. And now, the latest order has reduced that to zero.

However, PEMRA, in its order, says that Pakistan’s TV and FM radio services can continue to air up to 10 per cent foreign content from nations other than India. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

Pakistan’s No 1 TV show was Indian import Naagin which was aired by Filmazia and helped its rise in the ratings pecking order while shows such as Yeh hai Mohabbatein helped boost the viewership of channels such as Urdu1 and shows such as Kumkum Bhagya were rated highly on Geo Kahani. Among leading entertainment channels in Pakistan are: Colors, HumTV, Ary Digital, PTV Home, Geo Entertainment, APlus, ATV and Geo Kahani.

According to Pakistan TV executives, the impact of banning Indian content is going to be felt by India’s music labels and TV channels. “Close to about Rs ~~25-30~~ 150 crore of exports are going to vanish for Indian music and TV companies,” says an industry observer.

However, they expect the official ban to continue for only a while, once the political heat between the two nations cools down. “We have already requested that Indian broadcasting companies from whom we have acquired the content to understand this force majeure which has been put on us,” says a Pakistan TV executive. “It is an act of the government over which we have no control, and we have to comply. Of course, our viewers are not going to be happy with such a sudden call to action and their favourite Indian TV shows going off just like that, and our ratings will probably drop. But, we have to deal with it, positively as, it is in the two nations’ interest.”

In the meanwhile, Pakistan channels are looking at filling the gap created by Indian content going off-air with Turkish and American content.

Among the Indian TV networks which will feel the brunt of the ban include Viacom18, Zee TV, Sony and Star India.

Of course, music labels will also feel the impact, but to what extent was not clear at the time of writing.

The point of concern is whether the Pakistani ban will lead to a spurt in piracy of Indian content online and offline. “This is what Pakistan probably has in mind,” says a media specialist. “The official ban will lead to revenue losses on account of trade, but the piracy losses could probably be in multiples. And if Pakistan so desires it can magnify the problem.”

(Updated on 20 October; the figure of losses that Indian broadcasters would suffer was upped to Rs 150 crore after discussions with broadcasters and theatrical film distributors.)

Related Topics:Broadcasters Filmazia FM radio Geo Kahani Kumkum Bhagya Naagin Pakistan Pemra Pervez Musharaff Viacom18

Up Next

Arnab NOW wants to challenge BBC and CNN International

Don't Miss

PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

Click to comment

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

1 week 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.