Tag: Parul Goel

  • 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. 

  • Zee UK blazes ahead with bold bets, beats rivals at their own game

    Zee UK blazes ahead with bold bets, beats rivals at their own game

    LONDON: Zee Entertainment UK isn’t just keeping up with the times—it’s running laps around its rivals. While other broadcasters are stuck in planning mode, Zee is executing at full throttle across platforms, markets and formats, setting a relentless pace for innovation in south Asian media.

    Zee Cinema has been clocking consistently high monthly reach in the UK, overtaking legacy players like Star Utsav. But resting on its laurels? 

    It’s not Zee’s style. 

    “Success is not a destination, it is a catalyst for the next leap forward,” said Zee TV territory head for the UK and Europe Parul Goel. His team is reshaping the game, not just playing it.

    Zee’s forward thinking approach has made it a model for others globally. From launching Zee One in Germany to pioneering Fast channels in France and the UK, Zee is rolling out initiatives that others are still workshopping. It was first to bring an Indian GEC—&TV—to the Fast ecosystem, and the first to dub Indian content in German, with Shah Rukh Khan himself launching it.

    It’s also made bolder plays outside the box: launching Europe’s first-ever cricket Fast pop-up channel with live ILT20 season 3 coverage, pulling off a multi-platform crossover of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Rewind: Queens of the 90s at Wembley Arena, and rolling out contextual advertising in the UK to boost engagement and brand ROI.
    With a 30-year head start, Zee’s legacy is already studded with milestones—like the UK’s first South Asian film awards in 2005 (ZCA), exclusive stage productions like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at Manchester Opera House, and a track record of being the first sponsor behind major Bollywood concerts.

    Now it’s breaking new ground in streaming. Z5 has introduced the first-ever south Asian SVoD tier with ads in the UK and Europe, aggressively priced for reach. Behind the scenes, AI-led content workflows for Fast have helped Zee cut costs while maintaining its hallmark production quality.

    Even industry peers, in marking Zee’s 30th anniversary, have admitted there’s simply no one better at pushing boundaries. 

    As Goel puts it: “Zee has always been a network of firsts not just in India, but across global markets. While others prepare, we deliver. We’re not just adapting to change, we are leading it.” These words echo through every bold step the network takes.

    As the media landscape continues to evolve, Zee UK remains committed to doing what it has always done best: leading with purpose, innovating with conviction, and delivering with consistency.

    With strategy in its veins and speed as its weapon, Zee UK isn’t just a player in the south Asian broadcasting space. It’s writing the future.

  • Zee UK crowned media brand of the year at British Asian Media Awards

    Zee UK crowned media brand of the year at British Asian Media Awards

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment UK has been named media brand of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Arqiva British Asian Media Awards, cementing its position as a dominant force in the UK broadcasting landscape.

    The award recognises Zee’s strategic expansion over the past year, which has seen the broadcaster evolve from a niche provider into a comprehensive media network with growing mainstream appeal.

    In 2024, Zee significantly expanded its footprint with several key launches, including Zee One UK, the country’s first fully English-dubbed channel showcasing Indian content, and Zee Punjabi, which caters to the 700,000-strong Punjabi diaspora across major platforms including Sky and Virgin Media.

    The media group has also strengthened its European presence with localised Zee One channels in Germany and France, delivering Bollywood films and Indian series dubbed in local languages.

    “We are incredibly proud to be named Media Brand of the Year,” said Territory Head Europe Parul Goel. “This recognition underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality, diverse content that resonates with audiences across the UK and Europe.”

    Zee’s marketing strategy has included high-profile campaigns across London’s transport network, digital billboards, and iconic locations such as Piccadilly Circus, significantly raising the brand’s visibility beyond its traditional audience base.

    The company, part of India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, now operates over 50 channels worldwide, reaching more than 1.3 billion viewers globally.

     

  • Zee launches French-dubbed Fast channel in France on Samsung, Rakuten TV

    Zee launches French-dubbed Fast channel in France on Samsung, Rakuten TV

    MUMBAI: Parul Goel has a grin he can’t stop beaming on his face.

    The  Zee Entertainment veteran and territory head UK, Europe & CFO UK, Europe, US & Canada  has just launched Zee Magic, the first ever 24 hour Indian entertainment channel fully dubbed in French in France. A free advertising supported television channel (Fast), it is available on Samsung TV Plus and on Rakuten TV.

    For him it’s a major victory.  The  17 year-long Zee Entertainment veteran has been pulling out all the stops to take Zee on the Fast route and in as many markets as possible.

    The French flagoff  is the third full European language Fast service that the Zee group has launched in the region over the past 12 months. Earlier, Zee Europe had successfully launched Zee One in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (known as DACH). This was a German dubbed service. 

    Zee World, dubbed in English,  is available in the UK, Nordics and the Benelux region.

    “Zee Europe is dedicated to bringing diverse and rich entertainment to audiences across the region, and this latest endeavor reaffirms our commitment to cultural exchange and media innovation,” said Goel on a post on linkedin.

    With many channels vying for attention in the digital landscape, offering generic content that mirrors traditional TV programming doesn’t resonate as strongly with audiences. Instead, channels that provide unique, specialized, or exclusive content—whether it’s targeted at a particular demographic, genre, or passion area—are able to stand out.The path to success for Fast channels lies in finding the right balance between curation and differentiation. The more distinct and tailored the content is, the better these channels are positioned to compete in an evolving media landscape where engagement is increasingly valued over sheer reach. Parul – great to see you leading this initiative and thanks to our partners, ” added Zee Entertainment CBO -international business  Ashok Namboodiri in response to Parul’s post.