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Star Gold’s HD push

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MUMBAI: It’s getting high on High definition (HD). We are referring to the Star network’s Hindi  movie channel Star Gold which has strategically, started premiering movies first on Star Gold HD, then following up with a first airing on its standard definition (SD) service.

It’s all in the line of giving its viewers a value add.  Explains Star Gold executive VP Hemal Jhaveri: “We are categorically looking at premiering certain content that we have acquired only on Star Gold HD. It’s a very clear vision we have for keeping the FPCs for both the HD and SD feeds very different from one another. If a viewer is going to pay premium prices he deserves something extra, so we figured why not premiere movies, may be a week or even a month in advance, than our SD feeds. We are clearly focused on strengthening our HD portfolio and it does attract and appeal to premium audiences. ”

Amongst the first films to get this treatment was the Saif Ali Khan starrer Bullett Raja which had its HD premiere on 21 February followed by the SD premier a day later.  Youth centric flick Yaariyan which is to have its SD first run on 21 March at 8 pm premiered on Star Gold HD on 16 March. 

And Jhaveri is quite buoyed by the viewer feedback that Yaariyan has generated. Says he:  “We have always focused on offering a mix of varied movie genres to our audiences, with entertaining content. Being a youth centric film, Yaariyan has connected very well with the younger generation and with the music being very popular among the audience we are positive of receiving a good response for the premiere.”

Star India has close to 33 channels in its network. And Jhaveri says it leaves no stone unturned in terms of promoting the big ticket film premieres airing on Star Gold and Star Gold HD on all its channels.  He adds: “We also carry out a 360 degree marketing drive for the movies as well. We treat each movie on its merit, some require heavier push with on-air promotions and some would require a separate campaign. So each movie is treated on its content merit.”

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Jhaveri believes the HD premiere tack will work well on the advertising front. Says he: “We are really sure that more and more brands will want to reach out to premiere customers through our HD feed. It’s been great in terms of qualitative feedback and we are confident of building more traction for our HD portfolio.”

Meanwhile, he points out that the network is going easy on handing out fat cheques to buy films this year as the market is overheated.  “We have already made enough acquisitions last year but as far as this year is concerned we are going to be really selective and to a certain extent not really acquire any movie,” discloses Jhaveri. “For the first time you will see a lot of unsold movies in the market, so we are just being very stringent in the content we acquire for this year and will do so only if the need arises. ” 

Star Gold has a movie library of 1,100 titles which it shares with its sister channel Movies OK. In 2012, the network had acquired over 500 films from the Viacom 18 group followed by the deal with superstars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn in early 2013 for all their films till 2017.  Additionally, the network signed a deal for other exciting movies for its 2014 movies line up. Some of the high profile premieres slated for the year include: Jai HoKickBombay VelvetBang BangRoyAction JacksonSingham 2HamshakalsBobby Jasoos and Creature.

To its credit is the information tidbit that the network has successfully premiered the maximum number of Rs 100 crore Bollywood films, including blockbusters such as SinghamBodyguardRa.OneHousefull 2Bol BachchanSon of SardaarDabangg 2 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

The telecast of Yaariyan should help nudge its viewership – which saw a slippage last week -up.   Star Gold SD received 164,983 GVTs in week 10 of TAM ratings against 176,596 GVTs in week 9 (-11,613) even as sister channel Movies OK generated 130,606 GVTs in week 10 against 116,767 GVTs (-13,839).

  

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Laughs meet chills as ‘Jhamkudi’ hits TV screens

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MUMBAI: Get ready for a hauntingly good time as Jhamkudi, the Gujarati blockbuster that cast a spell on cinema-goers, makes its world television premiere on Shemaroo Josh this 14 November at 7 PM.

Directed by Umang Vyas, the film takes viewers to the eerie village of Raniwada, where Navratri celebrations are overshadowed by the curse of a vengeful witch. Enter Bablo, a quirky real estate agent, and Kumud, a royal heir, whose fates collide in a hilarious and spooky chain of events that’s equal parts chaos and charm.

The film stars national award-winning actress Manasi Parekh, who shines once again with her trademark depth and grace, alongside Viraj Ghelani, the digital sensation whose comic timing is as sharp as ever. The stellar ensemble also includes Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia, Jayesh More, Krunal Pandit, Chetan Daiya, and Bhavini Jani.

Blending goosebumps with giggles, Jhamkudi proves that even horror can have heart. With its sharp writing, witty dialogues, and a dash of desi masala, the film promises an evening of family fun that’s both thrilling and thoroughly entertaining.

So mark your calendars, grab some popcorn, and tune in to Shemaroo Josh on 14 November at 7 PM for the perfect mix of fright and delight, because this witch tale is all about wicked fun!
 

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Zee reels in record highs with a blockbuster show of movie magic

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MUMBAI: In a cinematic twist worthy of its own premiere, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has pulled off a blockbuster of its own recording a three-year high share of 28.7 per cent in the Hindi movie cluster in Q2FY26. Proving that great storytelling never goes out of style, the content and technology powerhouse has reaffirmed its dominance in India’s ever-competitive movie broadcast landscape.

Leading the charge is Zee Cinema, which reclaimed its position as the No. 1 Hindi movie channel (15 plus HSM Urban) this quarter. Its line-up of premieres from the rural rumbler Jaat to the slick actioner Game Changer pulled in massive audiences. But it was Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 that truly stole the show, delivering the highest-rated movie premiere of FY26 so far. The last film to achieve a similar feat? Gadar 2, also a Zee Cinema triumph from November 2023.

Meanwhile, Zee’s Free-to-Air dynamos Anmol Cinema and Zee Action flexed their reach muscle, becoming the most-watched channels across all languages and genres. Each channel drew in more than 116 million viewers, proving that free TV still holds unbeatable sway in Indian households.

The story doesn’t end in Hindi. Zee’s regional clusters continue to script their own success stories. In Marathi, Zee Talkies, Zee Yuva, and Zee Chitramandir maintained their near-50 per cent market share, with the world television premiere of Phullwanti delivering the highest ratings of the quarter. Down south, Zee Thirai (Tamil) and Zee Cinemalu (Telugu) kept their leadership intact, while Zee Biskope in the Bhojpuri belt ranked among the top three in its market, a cinematic sweep across regions.

“The growth of our movies cluster across languages is a strong reflection of our content strategy focusing on new super-hit premieres, classic titles from our library and data-driven curation,” said a company spokesperson. “The genre’s unmatched reach and strong resonance amongst male viewers and the youth also enable it to deliver scale and strategic value to advertisers across markets.”

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And those advertisers are clearly tuning in. The genre’s steady viewership and distinct audience base make Hindi movie channels a mainstay in media mixes for India’s top ten advertisers. In September 2025 alone, Zee’s 22 movie channels across six languages reached over 550 million viewers, a testament to the scale and staying power of its cinematic empire.

From Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Karan Arjun to RRR and Bobby, Zee’s vast film library continues to bridge nostalgia and novelty. Some titles have reached iconic status Hum Aapke Hain Koun, for instance, has been watched by a staggering 250 million people over the past five years, roughly equal to the population of the world’s fifth most populous country.

As Zee continues to blend data with drama and strategy with storytelling, it’s clear the brand isn’t just broadcasting films, it’s curating a cultural phenomenon. For millions of viewers across India, the show must go on and with Zee, it most certainly will

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Lights, camera, boo! &pictures turns full on spooky

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MUMBAI: Trick or treat, but make it filmi! This Halloween, &pictures is turning up the spook-o-meter with ‘Full On Halloween’, a fun-horror movie marathon airing all day on 31 October 2025. Promising goosebumps, giggles and ghostly surprises, the channel is set to deliver a perfect mix of fright and fun.

From eerie small-town tales to supernatural showdowns, the line-up packs in something for everyone. The chills kick off at 8:45 am with Kakuda, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh, followed by the mischievous The Bhootni at 3:15 pm, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Palak Tiwari and Mouni Roy. At 5:30 pm, Phone Bhoot dials up laughs and scares with Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi, before the visually rich folklore fantasy Tumbbad closes the night at 10:40 pm.

Adding to the fun are K3 Kaali Ka Karishma, Om Bheem Bush, and Bhaagmathi, keeping the thrills fresh and spooky spirits high. With a blend of humour, horror, and high-energy storytelling, Full On Halloween promises a day where jump scares meet joyrides.

So this 31 October, grab your popcorn and your courage, because Halloween on &pictures isn’t just on… it’s Full On! 

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