ITV

Tag: Zed TV

  • Zed TV launched at glittering function in Mumbai

    Zed TV launched at glittering function in Mumbai

    The much delayed launch of the education channel Zed TV from the Zee TV stable finally took place late last evening at the hands of Indian information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. Other attendees at the function were Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Himachal Pradesh chief minister, and the edication minister for Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh.

    Swaraj said that she was delighted to launch the educational channel, because it was something that India needs at a time when parents are tearing their out because children are tuning into television to watch movies, soaps, series and normal TV pulp programming. The other political leaders echoed that sentiment and went out of their way to praise Chandra for his venture. “You are doing what we should be doing,” they all said.

    She however cautioned that the channel’s fate will be decided by its programming. “A 24 hour educational channel is a bold initiative; it’s a promise you will have to live up to,” she said.

    The channel is however starting with just five hours of original programming going up to eight hours daily, says Chandra. Initially to be aired in English it will be made available in six languages altogether, he added.

    The channel will have programming targetd at various age groups right from toddlers to to school children to youth to professionals to women to senior citizens, disclosed Zee Interactive Learning Systems CEO Uma Ganesh. “It will whet Indian’s appetite for learning and will drive viewers to the zeelearn.com web site, the Zee Career Academy and Zee LiveWire centres,” she said.

    “We expect to do a revenue of Rs 5,000-7,000 million per annum from our entire education business in the next five years,” she added.

  • Zed TV to launch tomorrow

    Zed TV to launch tomorrow

    After a number of postponements, Zed TV, the education channel from the Zee TV group is to be launched on 12 October. The channel is being beamed off Asiasat 3S. It will initially be digital free to air but will be converted into an encrypted and paid service in the near future.

    The launch is slated to take place at the hands of information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. Zed TV CEO Uma Ganesh says the channel is expected to tot up an annual revenue of Rs 1,000 million per annum in five years.

    At start up, it is offering programming bands targeted at toddlers, school going children, youth, women, IT professionals, and shows targeted at lay consumers.

    “We have talk shows, quizzes, cookery, and game shows – to make education fun,” says Ganesh. “There are also shows to make consumers aware about law, finance, parenting.”

    Students will also be taken through tutorial programmes around entrance exams to specialised courses such as management, engineering, hotel management etc.

    Ganesh says the channel is going to be the star of the Zee TV pay bouquet. “It will be a must carry channel on cable TV networks because of its content,” she says.

     

  • Sushma Swaraj opens for business

    Sushma Swaraj opens for business

    Sushma Swaraj does not cease to surprise you. The first statement she made after taking over as I&B minister was that she wanted TV to be programmed for the family, and vulgarity in programmes should be curbed. She reiterated this at the launch of Zed TV in Mumbai a fortnight later.

    Yesterday speaking at the Economic Editors’ Conference in New Delhi, she let loose a cannon. She told the scribes that the government was relooking foreign investment in print media – something which has been a sacred cow for every government in power – not to be touched, not to be relooked at since a cabinet decision was taken in 1955 to close the doors on foreign investment in publishing. Even her predecessor Arun Jaitley who is seen as more of a liberal had said the sacred cow will not be touched

    “The scenario has changed with the arrival of the Internet,” she told the hacks. “That is why we are reconsidering it.”

    She additionally told the journos that the group of ministers of DTH had almost finished their deliberations and a draft was ready. A decision of opening it up would be taken up in the next 10-15 days. Whether these are just empty promises or not only time will tell. Previous I&B ministers have made similar proclaimations only not to meet their commitments because of the various pulls and pressures.

    She added that while a common regulator is needed for the information technology, communications and information and broadcasting ministries, there is no need to merge the three ministries into one. This would mean that she is headed for a clash with the Fali Nariman commmittee recommendation which is believed to have recommended that the three ministries be merged.

    Another major development yesterday was the announcement that the entertainment sector (including films) had been notified as an industry, thus making it eligible to get loans from financial institutions.