ITV

Tag: Mukund Galgali

  • Zee TV UK’s watch party for “ChhoriyyanChali Gaon” delivers laughter, nostalgia, and rave reviews

    Zee TV UK’s watch party for “ChhoriyyanChali Gaon” delivers laughter, nostalgia, and rave reviews

    MUMBAI: Zee TV UK hosted an exclusive Watch Party in Central London, offering a first look at its latest reality show ChhoriyyanChali Gaon (Beauties Goes to Village). The invite-only event welcomed over 35 guests from media, entertainment, and business, and delivered an evening filled with laughter, nostalgia, and heartfelt connection.

    This event marks a first-of-its-kind initiative in the UK by any Indian television channel — a curated preview held a full week before the show’s official launch, underscoring Z’s commitment to innovation and audience engagement. The gesture was not just bold — it was precocious, setting the tone for a new era of immersive content experiences.

    Guests were treated to a preview of the show’s first four contestants, whose journey from city life to village challenges sparked surprise, admiration, and plenty of laughter. From fetching water to cooking on mud stoves, the women’s experiences will resonate deeply with the audience, many of whom shared their own village memories during the evening and got emotional.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. president – International Business, Amit Goenka stated, “Z has always stood at the forefront of innovation, and with ‘ChhoriyyanChali Gaon’, we are proud to pioneer a format that blends entertainment with cultural authenticity. This is not just a show — it’s a movement that reconnects our global audiences with the soul of India. Hosting a preview event in the UK, ahead of the official launch, is a bold step that reflects our commitment to creating immersive, meaningful experiences. We are proud to be the first Indian broadcaster to do so, and we believe this marks the beginning of a new chapter in culturally rooted storytelling.”

    Hosted by Parul Goel, Territory Head of Zee Entertainment UK Ltd, the event featured gourmet starters and light drinks, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. A special video message from the deputy CEO and chief financial officer of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, India, Mukund Galgali, added gravitas, highlighting Z’s commitment to bold, culturally rich storytelling.

    The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees expressed that audiences are craving something new — a break from the repetitive reality formats that lack innovation or cultural depth. ChhoriyyanChali Gaon was hailed as a refreshing concept that reconnects Indians abroad with their roots, offering both entertainment and emotional resonance.

    Attendees praised the show’s concept for reconnecting Indians abroad with their roots and expressed excitement for upcoming episodes. “Only Z could come up with something so real, so entertaining, and so close to home,” was a common sentiment. Guests left with smiles, stories, and genuine excitement for the episodes to come.

    The evening concluded with warm wishes for the show’s success and appreciation for Z’s innovative programming. ChhoriyyanChali Gaon is poised to become a cultural bridge — one that entertains while celebrating the essence of Indian village life. The show is launching on 3 August at 9pm. 

  • Zeel shows smart bottom line, despite a slippage in its top line IN Q3 FY 25

    Zeel shows smart bottom line, despite a slippage in its top line IN Q3 FY 25

    MUMBAI: A sharp focus on its expenditure and tight cost controls have resulted in Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel)  notching up a respectable showing in its latest quarter FY2025 results as well as for the nine months of FY2025.  The net result: there has been a growth in profitability despite revenues slipping because of a challenging advertising environment.

    The company’s operating revenue for Q3 2025 ended 31 December 2024 stood at Rs 19,788 million, reflecting a three per cent  decline year-over-year (YoY) due to a weak festive season and lower advertising revenues.

    In the investor call which followed, CEO Punit Goenka confessed  that “the green shoots we witnessed during the beginning of the quarter did not pick up the required pace to drive a positive growth momentum. This, coupled with muted spending by FMCG brands in a festive quarter, further slowed the pace of growth for the industry at large, although there was a marginal pickup in the rural recovery. The lacklustre sentiment in the urban market led to weaker demand November and December.  This, in turn, also impacted our advertising revenue during the quarter.” 

    Punit, however, expressed optimism of a recovery in the coming months. Said he: “Going forward, we are hopeful that the upcoming union budget will encompass pertinent steps by the honorable finance minister to revive the consumption cycle in order to spur growth. On the back of these factors, we remain optimistic about a gradual recovery in the new fiscal that will enable us to capitalise on the increased spending by advertisers.”

    Added deputy CEO &  CFO Mukund Galgali: “The TV industry landscape remains healthy, and the overall industry wide TV viewership has increased by 1.4 per cent further. We continue to be strong, number two entertainment network in India, and we have gained 40 BPS share to 16.9 per cent as  compared to the same period last year. And as Punit mentioned again, Zee  Marathi has shown a consistent progress four car intervention. And Zee  Tamil has also gained healthy share on a year on year basis compared to the same period last year. on the digital side, Zee5 has further narrowed its operating losses in this quarter. Its EBITDA loss is lower by Rs 22.6 crores in QoQ and Rs 107.8 crore YoY basis. A B2B deal which is still being discussed and was not renewed impacted our top line for Zee5.” 

    In contrast to ad revenues, subscription revenues grew by  seven per cent year on year to Rs 9,406 million driven by linear TV and digital platform Zee5. EBITDA for Q3 FY25 increased by 52 per cent YoY to Rs 3,184 million, with a margin of 16.1 per cent  (up from 10.2 per cent in Q3 FY24). Profit after tax (PAT) from continuing operations rose by 207 per cent YoY to Rs 1,636 million, underscoring effective cost management and operational efficiency. Total expenditure decreased by 10 per cent  YoY to Rs 16,604 million, driven by optimised programming and technology costs.

    For the nine month period ended 31 December for FY25, total revenue was at Rs 61,100 million a six per cent decline YoY, while expenditure decreased 10 per cent, reflecting disciplined cost control.  EBITDA for 9M FY25 rose by 31 per cent  YoY to Rs 9,110 million, with margins improving to 14.9 per cent  (up 410 basis points YoY). PAT from continuing operations increased by 167 per cent  YoY to Rs 4,988 million.

    Zee Network’s TV viewership share grew by 40 basis points YoY, driven by strong performances in Hindi movies and Marathi content. New show launches like Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile (Zee TV) and Lakshmi Nivas (Zee Marathi) contributed to the viewership growth. Zee5 recorded an eight per cent  YoY revenue growth in Q3 FY25, releasing 14 shows and movies, including seven originals. EBITDA losses for Zee5 reduced significantly YoY, reflecting better cost structures. Zee Music Company remained the second-largest music label with 160 million YouTube subscribers, adding 3.6 million during the quarter. The channel clocked 43 billion video views during Q3 FY 2025. Zee Studios released five films in Q3, including two Hindi and three regional movies.

    The company spent a lot more this quarter on promoting its shows as well as on building its brand following the collapse of the merger with Sony. Its advertisement and promotion expenses stood at Rs 2826 million  in Q3FY25 as against Rs 2275 million  in the previous quarter and Rs 2065 million Q3 FY 2024.  In the 9 months in FY2025, it has spent Rs 7725 million as against Rs 6963 million in 9m FY2024. 

    The company also announced the appointment of media veteran Divya Karani as an additional director in the category of independent director for three years with effect from 23 January 2025  based on the recommendation of the nomination & remuneration committee and subject to the approval of the ministry of information and broadcasting and shareholders of the Company.  Finally, Zeel’s sustainability efforts saw a 33 per cent  reduction in waste sent to landfills and an 11 per cent decrease in daily carbon emissions during FY24.

  • Zeel’s Punit Goenka resigns as MD, to continue as CEO

    Zeel’s Punit Goenka resigns as MD, to continue as CEO

    MUMBAI: He wants to get down to the brass tacks of business., roll up his sleeves and go about achieving the targets the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) board/nomination remunerations committee  has set him and rev up the company’s revenue and profits. Zeel CEO & MD Punit Goenka has resigned from the  post of managing director while retaining his position as CEO. Earlier Punit had sought permission from the Zeel board to resign as MD and continue as CEO which it accepted, effective 18 November.

    The company has also agreed to additionally designate Zeel chief financial officer Mukund Galgali as the deputy CEO. Galgali has been with the Zee group for the past 17 years, but has 27 years of work experience, and will support Punit in driving the company’s strategic initiatives.  As a member of the leadership team, he has been providing strategic consulting advice on business planning and performance, regulatory and ta  implications on business, process innovations and management controls etc. to improve business efficiency and value creation for shareholders.

    The Zeel board has recommended that a deputy chief financial officer be appointed to further strengthen the management team. Further, it is continuing the review of the company’s HR policies, processes and salary structures which were changed during the merger.

    It may be recalled that the Zeel board raised the targets  set for Punit while reappointing him as the MD & CEO. Late last week, the board had also put him under close watch, saying they would be evaluating his performance in terms of quarterly consolidated revenues and EBITDA  over the next four quarters  commencing Q3FY25) and pay out of 25 per cent of consolidated net profits as dividend to  Zeel’s shareholders.

    In a statement issued on Monday, Punit  said that Zeel remains on a firm footing and is taking all the necessary steps to build a robust foundation for its future. “In order to ensure we maintain a sharp focus on achieving our targeted aspirations, the core businesses require dedicated time and energy which can only be achieved in an operational capacity. In the long-term interest of the Company and all its stakeholders, I have approached the board with a request to attain operational focus as the CEO. I am grateful to the board for recognizing my efforts and supporting me in this approach,” he added.

    As part of the changes,  the variable portion (40 per cent) of Punit’s  salary will be paid only on achievement of certain milestones, subject to a maximum cap as defined by the Zeel board.

    Zeel chairman R. Gopalan stated,“The board appreciates the approach taken by Punit Goenka to sharpen his focus towards enhancing the operational aspects of the company as the chief executive officer. His expertise and business acumen remain unmatched, and we remain confident in his abilities to deliver immense value to the company and all its stakeholders in the position he assumes. On behalf of the board, I wish him immense luck and success going forward.”