ITV

Tag: Tumhari Disha

  • Zee Smile set for a revamp; Shailja Kejriwal to head

    Zee Smile set for a revamp; Shailja Kejriwal to head

    MUMBAI: Zee Network’s dead channel, Zee Smile is all set to ‘smile’ again. After more than a decade of its launch (September 2004), the network aims to get the channel up and running again.

     

    According to sources close to the development, Zee Smile is set for a revamp in the coming months and Zeel chief creative head – special projects Shailja Kejriwal will head the project. She can also be credited for launching general entertainment channel (GEC), Zindagi last year for the Indian diaspora. 

     

    With the revamp, the channel is trying to move away from tear jerkers. It aims to bring the fraternity of television and theatre together. Sources from the industry say, “The channel, with the revamp, aims to grab attention of niche audience. Owing to that fact, Zee Smile will be televising plays.”

     

    Shot like a TV series, the channel will have plays across languages dubbed in Hindi. A source within the network further confirms the development and reveals that the planning for the channel’s revamp had begun in December 2014. 

     

    Moreover, the theatre groups are also planning to travel across states like Punjab and Orissa amongst others to bring in visibility. “The artists have been rehearsing for close to three months before going on-floors. The shoot is likely to take place in the month of April. Research has also taken place parallely,” reveals a media planner. 

     

    “It is a good initiative taken by the network. Additionally, it aims to tap into the international markets, which is a plus point for theatre artists. They will get a good platform to showcase their talent across which they otherwise fail to get,” says a senior executive from a production house.

     

    Kejriwal was unavailable for comment when contacted.

     

    At present, the channel has no original shows in its baskets. It only airs reruns of popular drama series of its sister channel Zee TV such as Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli, Hitler Didi, Tumhari Disha, Woh, Pavitra Rishta and Hum Paanch.

  • Zee to strengthen 8 pm slot with ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhann’

    Zee to strengthen 8 pm slot with ‘Banoo Main Teri Dulhann’

    MUMBAI: Zee TV is all set to beef up its programming with Banoo Main Teri Dulhann, to kick off on 14 August at 8 pm from Monday to Friday. It replaces the long running soap Tumhari Disha and hopes to gain a strong viewership in the 8-10 pm slot, as it has already acquired popularity with leadout show Jab Love Hua, as well as Kasam Se and Saat Phere in subsequent slots.

    Dulhann, also running along a women centric theme, is about an uneducated village girl Vidya waiting to be swept of her feet by a charming prince. Marriage, however, shatters her dreams as she faces the wrath of her husband and in-laws who belittle her background and education.

    The essence of the show looks at the positivity with which she hopes to rise above these trials and win over her husband. Promising to have a good twist in the story, the show hopes to grip viewers.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on the strategy that has been used to pull in the viewership, Zee TV senior VP programming Ashvini Yardi said, “Based on the lines of a Cinderella story, the theme deals with a reality that most Indian women can identify with. Tumhari Disha came in at a time when Zee did not have the numbers it holds today, hence, we are hoping Dulhann will be able to achieve that.”

    The main characters are played by two fresh faces, Divyanka Tripathi (Vidya) from Bhopal and Kolkata boy Sharad Malhotra (Sagar). The two were contestants from Cine Star Ki Khoj. Nilima Bajpai from Shankuntala Films has handled the production.

    Zee TV businesss head Punit Goenka said, “With Saat Phere, we addressed the issue of the discrimination a girl faces in many parts in India on the grounds of her skin colour. Banoo Main Teri Dulhann will touch upon and deal with the struggles an illiterate village girl has to undergo. If Kasam Se and Saat Phere have struck a chord with our viewers, Banno Main Teri Dulhann will take it further.”

    As Zee TV attempts to capture the 8 pm time band, it will have to face stiff competition from Sahara’s recently launched Sati. Star Plus’ Pyaar Ke Do Naam Ek Raadha Ek Shyaam is also in this time slot but, is yet to deliver numbers. Sony has also planned to launch a new show Hum Mei Hai Visshwas to replace Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai at 8 pm.

    Now, its left to the viewer to decide whether the show will be able to achieve the stronghold it hopes to establish during the prime time slot.

  • Zee TV to defend turf with ‘Cinestar ki Khoj’, ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge’

    Zee TV to defend turf with ‘Cinestar ki Khoj’, ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge’

    MUMBAI: Zee TV is planning to launch the second season of its reality talent hunt show Zee Cinestar Ki Khoj in September-October 2006. The channel also has plans to bring back the 2006-2007 edition of its landmark property, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge, this year itself.

    “Zee TV will be launching the second edition of its reality talent hunt Cine Star Ki Khoj. The channel is targeting September-October for the launch of the new season. Zee will be taking the property to the market very soon. Also, inspired by the success of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa series, the channel will be bringing back the flagship property Challenge this year,” says a source close to Zee.

    When contacted for confirmation of the developments, Zee TV marketing head Tarun Mehra agreed that plans were on to bring back Cine Star Ki Khoj and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge. However, he was quick to add that no time frame had been fixed as yet on the launch.

    “We have plans to launch Cine Star Ki Khoj’s second season this year. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge may also come back in 2006. But, we are yet to finalise the details,” says Mehra.

    According to reliable sources, Zee has awarded the production duties of Cinestar Ki Khoj 2 to Optimystix Entertainment. The production house has earlier produced the Manoj Bajpai-anchored gameshow Kam Ya Zyaada for Zee TV. The winning couple of the contest will be awarded title roles in a movie.

    Race, the movie which stars the winners of the first season, is presently nearing completion, according to a Zee TV executive. Zee has associated with Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts for the film. Zee owns the world rights for the film while Mukta owns the India theatrical rights.

    THE STRATEGY
    Why would Zee TV exhaust all its key properties in the last quarter of the calendar year? Though settled comfortably in the second spot behind Star Plus in the Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) space, the channel is in no mood to rest on its laurels. Reason? Competitors are gearing up to launch some key prime time properties in order to set off a fight-back.

    Sony Entertainment Television will be launching the Indian version of the popular international reality show Big Brother in November this year. The upcoming Champions Trophy, to be telecast on Max and Sab, will also be there in the running for the prime time stakes as the matches will be played Day/Night.

    Star One, on the other hand, has already announced its intention to launch the second seasons of two of its most successful properties Naach Baliye and Remix. However, the immediate priority for Zee TV would be to beef up its 8 pm slot, which is presently occupied by the long running soap Tumhari Disha. The channel will wind up Tumhari Disha in the first half of August with a new prime time property Dulhan.

    The latest Tam data for C&S 4+, HSM, shows that, the rest of the Zee TV properties have already established in their respective time bands. As per the Tam figures provided by the channel for the period of 3 July to 10 July, Saath Phere has recorded a rating of 6.54 TVR in the Zee TV charts, followed by Kasamh Se at 6.11 TVR. In the 8:30 pm slot, the soap Jab Love Hua has recorded a rating of 2.4 TVR. Shabaash India, at 10:30 pm, has delivered a rating of 2.7 TVR, while the 10 pm show Johny Aala Re scored 2.4 TVR. The Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’iL Champs is averaging at 2.7 TVR.