Movie Channels

The whole movie acquisition game has gone for a toss

Published

12 years ago

February 28, 2014

MUMBAI: In recent times, quite a few International as well as regional films have been dubbed into Hindi to wide commercial acclaim. Why are the channels acquiring the rights to air these foreign films or south Indian films, dub in Hindi and air on their channels at primetime? What might be the reason behind it?

Bollywood blockbusters have become too expensive. These films revolve around just the top four to five male actors. Plus, a Bollywood blockbuster comes with a baggage. Bollywood producers have become aggregators. When they sell a blockbuster film, four to five smaller-budget films come in the package.

For example, when Karan Johar sells television rights for his blockbuster, he sells it as a package along with a few of the films made under his banner by other directors. The smaller-budget films make no commercial sense for television channels.

When Sony MAX bought the television rights for Dhoom 3, reportedly paying a very high price, the movie channel had to buy yet-to-be-released film like Bewakoofiyaan as part of the package.

Also, the recall value of bollywood blockbusters now is low. A bollywood blockbuster which was aired on a television channel for the second time, the viewership rating was more than 75 per cent lower than the ratings garnered by the film at its television premier in October 2013.

The big budget films being made now make their money in the first and second weekends. The films do not qualify for a second viewing.

The economics of acquiring bollywood blockbusters first drove movie channels to dubbing English and south Indian languages films, largely action movies, in Hindi.

Sony MAX, Senior Vice President and Business Head, Neeraj Vyas, has an interesting take on the matter. He says, “it is because acquisition of Hindi films has become so expensive. It is virtually impossible to keep buying those films. Everybody everybody has a limited budget. There is a cost that you incur for renewing your existing library. So there is very little money to keep buying those films.”

“The whole movie acquisition game has gone for a toss,” says Vyas.

Even the Hollywood action blockbusters do not come cheap. These films too are packaged by the studios along with older movies. Aggregation happens even when television rights are sold for Hollywood movies. And, a substantial part of the movies acquired along with blockbusters add to the worthless movie library.

In an interesting turn of events, the south Indian films being dubbed into Hindi are gaining more traction as compared the international films.

Disney India Director, Programming, Movie Channels, Kunal Mukherjee says Disney has witnessed a preference towards regional films, specifically south Indian language films dubbed in Hindi. “While certain international titles do work wonderfully with the audiences, south Indian films, if taken average, certainly work better.”

Do the channels tend to follow a particular timeslot, for example, airing Chinese films dubbed in Hindi on weekends and south Indian films dubbed in Hindi on weekdays? On that Mukherjee states, “We understand our audiences and there is no specific viewing pattern that is followed for dubbed movies. UTV Action brings in content as per the audience preferences and entertains them with movies in the manner and language that is relevant to them.”

What is the selection process of the films? “We are constantly listening to our viewers’ choices and for UTV Action, we consider the star cast of the movie along with the number of action scenes and the date of release for our library.”

Regarding the audience demographic being aimed at, Mukherjee stated that, UTV Action is a movie channel which entertains audiences across all age groups with content which is acquired through various partners and associates who own the intellectual properties of the film.

Sony MAX’s Vyas says, “Almost 25-30 per cent of everybody’s FPC in a week comprises of south Indian dubs. South Indian dubs are very integral reality of composition of every Hindi movie channel. Those guys completely enjoy south Indian cinema.”

Another up and coming movie channel &Pictures also has some exciting projects lined up. The channel is launching ‘Hollywood Sundays’ at 12:00 pm, starting 2 March, 2014, to bring the Asli Desi flavour.

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Movie Channels

Laughs meet chills as ‘Jhamkudi’ hits TV screens

Published

4 months ago

November 13, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

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!

Movie Channels

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

Published

4 months ago

November 5, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

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.”

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

Movie Channels

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

Published

4 months ago

October 31, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

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!