GECs
&TV strengthens weekend programming with So You Think You Can Dance
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) is all set to take entertainment levels one notch higher with its channel &TV. After airing shows like India Poochega Sabse Shaana Kaun?, Deal or No Deal and The Voice, &TV is all set to kick start another exciting Indian adaptation of American dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance – ‘Ab India Ki Baari’ . To be aired twice a week, the show will be launched with a bank of 26 episodes for 13 weeks.
With 14 Emmy awards, 26 localized productions representing 35 different countries, the show will be aired from 24 April on Saturday and Sunday at the 8.30 pm time band. Produced by Endemol Shine India SYTYCD will witness an epic battle of Street and Stage style dance for the very first time on Indian Television. The two styles will battle it out and give all that it takes for the ultimate supremacy title on the dance floor.
Maruti Suzuki’s Alto K 10 has been roped in as the presenting sponsor for the show. Apart from this, the channel has also brought in Chings’ Secret and Yepme.com as co-powered by sponsors and Priyagold as special partner for the show.
Leading the judges’ panel will be the epitome of grace and panache – Madhuri Dixit along with the national award winning choreographer – Bosco Martis and an encyclopaedia in dance and style – Terence Lewis. While Bosco will represent the street styles of dancing, Terence will represent the stage styles. Mouni Roy of the Naagin fame and the charming Rithvik Dhanjani are the hosts of the show.
Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, &TV business head Rajesh Iyer said, “We have been evaluating dance shows and So You Think You Can Dance is one of the leading dance shows that has been around in 35 nations now. The format brings forth an immense concept where the contestants are classified into two groups as per their style of dancing – Street and Stage. The ultimate winner from a gruelling Street v/s Stage Gala rounds will be chosen under the guidance of an esteemed jury. We believe that the show will give a new momentum to weekend television viewing experience.”
“We have to look at the overall strategy and So You Think You Can Dance tactically fit well with the 8.30 slot. Therefore we decided to take that particular time band to get more traction,” revealed Iyer.
He further added, “We are targeting family audiences because we are bringing something that is so inherent to Indian families which is their love for song and dance. Obviously youth is a very substantial part of our target audience and we want them to watch the show as well.”
After The Voice, Deal or No Deal, this is the third show that Endemol is producing for &TV. Speaking about the expectation from the show, Endemol Shine India COO Abhishek Rege said, “It’s been a biggest dance format and it’s been there for the last 13 years now. Even in India some of the shows have drawn inspiration from this and it was high time to get this show in India. I am glad that &TV actually thought about it. Aside from showcasing superlative content and talent, audiences will get to see a lot of dance variety on one platform. It is really good bet to have and we all are sure that it will succeed. With SYTYCD we would actually be able to take ratings averages of &TV also higher. We are sure that it will create a buzz around the dancing fraternity.”
With a 360 degree marketing blitzkrieg planned pan India, &TV is certainly looking at engaging consumers across various touchpoints. The campaign emphasizes on Ab India Ki Baari highlighting that the country is now ready for the ultimate battle of Street v/s Stage on the lines of the global format.
The original show was created by American Idol proytducers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lhgoe and is produced by Core Media Group’s 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions. The channel has acquired the rights of the global dance reality format SYTYCD from Dick Clark Productions. In the US, the contract for SYTYCD was recently renewed by Fox for a 13th season, which is slated to go on air on 30 May.
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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