GECs

Star India gets aggressive with global programme syndication sales

Published

8 years ago

January 16, 2018

MUMBAI: Leading Indian media and entertainment major Star India is quite confident that its new catalogue of historical dramas and contemporary soaps and series will gain traction as it continues with its international syndication drive. In an interaction with World Screen, Star India president international business and domestic distribution Gurjeev Kapoor said: “Our new line-up of shows like Love Ka Hai Intezar (The Wait For Love), Dhhai Kilo Prem (Imperfect Love), Tu Suraj Mein Saanj Piyaji (Soulmates season two) and Nimki Mukhiya (The Accidental Mayor) are generating a lot of interest. These shows have already captured the attention of audiences in India and are now on their way to winning [over] audiences worldwide.”

According to Kapoor, Star India’s shows have begun to get traction in almost every territory globally–right from the US to the UK to Europe and the CIS, Latin America and Southeast Asia. In some of these markets, partners or sales agents have been helping the broadcaster to find buyers; in some of them, Star India’s programme syndication team in Mumbai and other regions is driving the sales. In Latin America, the company has partnered Latin Media Corp, for Europe and CIS it has been working with Intellecta Srl while in Southeast Asia it has been selling directly.

The efforts have yielded results. For instance, Saras & Kumud (Saraswatichandra) has done well in seven Latin American nations, including Chile and Peru. Then Yours Truly, Paakhi (Tumhari Paakhi) has got a favourable response in Peru. Kapoor told the magazine that this has enthused the company to invest in dubbing a few more of its top shows.

Kapoor pointed to out that Is Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon has been its most successful breakthrough and it made history by becoming the first-ever Indian drama series to air in Turkey. “It broke many viewership records by quadrupling the channel ratings in that slot for our partner Kanal 7. This paved the way for many more Indian series on local Turkish television and Turkey continues to be a big market for us.”

Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are some of the Southeast nations that have been lapping up a lot of the content Star India has been dishing out. Among the shows that have done well in the region, Kapoor said, are Mahabharat, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Veera and Chandra Nandini.

Kapoor is also looking at adding to its partnerships for selling its programme formats. Star India has a partnership with Eccho Rights for three or four of its shows and is in conversation with other partners in local markets.

He believes that good storytelling can traverse borders and cultures and forms the core of Star India’s international business. “Programme sales have been a driver in expanding Star India’s content footprint across the world. This is an area where we were good but we want to grow exponentially,” Kapoor concluded.

Amen to that!

Up Next

Sony Six rakes in ad rev from BBL despite slow start

Don't Miss

WATConsult celebrates 11 yrs with unique board game

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.