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Tag: Zee Magic

  • 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. 
     

  • How Zee re-oriented its international strategy in FY2019-20

    How Zee re-oriented its international strategy in FY2019-20

    NEW DELHI: With the world grappling with a slowdown and a potential recession, companies have been tinkering around with their domestic and international strategies. India’s leading broadcaster Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zeel)- which had been grappling with its own ownership issues –  is no different. Even as it has realigning its domestic business to build its digital offerings and some niche television channels, it has been doing the clipping some services in some markets, while adding some in others internationally. 

    Recognised as one of the most international of India’s TV networks, Zeel has been serving content in 19 languages, including nine foreign ones, through its channels which reach more than 170 countries.

    It follows a two-pronged strategy for internationally– reaching the Indian and south Asian diaspora with channels in Indian languages and serving the non-Indian audience in their native languages, as it
    says in its annual report for FY 20.

    The change is mostly perceptible in Europe. Three channels were shut down in the UK in 2019-20, which is now a primarily an FTA market for south Asian networks. Zee One, a network channel – which it tomtommed two years ago – was also shut down in Germany in May 2020.

    The network has strengthened its distribution reach in the US with a multiscreen platform presence across smart TVs, mobile, and set top box devices. It signed new distribution deals in Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad and organized the first-ever Indian Film Festival at the Embassy of India in Mexico City.

    During the year, Zeel also worked towards increasing the distribution reach of its channels in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. A total of eight productions were executed in the year of which three were in Tamil.

    In Africa, the distribution reach of Zee Magic was expanded on new platforms (on digital entertainment platforms StarTimes and Starsat) and Zee Alem was introduced in the Ethiopian market in June 2020. This channel is in Amharic language.

    Zeel was impacted in the middle east and north Africa (MENA) region owing to the shutting down of the south Asian language Pehla platform from OSN, one of the largest DTH operators, in the region. However, the network expanded its reach in the UAE and Qatar through the  launch of new channels on existing platforms and three local Arabic series productions in Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon based on stories that were picked from the Zee format library.

  • Zee accelerates growth plan for Africa, partners TNTSAT

    MUMBAI: Aiming to further strengthen its presence in Africa, leading Indian content company, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) today announced its entry into the French-speaking country of Mali with the launch of its leading channels, Zee Magic and Zee Cinema on DTT network – TNTSAT Africa in Mali. Additionally, from today, ZEE Africa is partnering with the continent’s largest DTH platform, DStv for the launch of Zee Bollymovies (channel 114), a specially customized, English-dubbed, Bollywood movie channel for the African market.

    ZEEL CEO – international broadcast business Amit Goenka said: “ZEE will be making further inroads into the vast continent of Africa with our entry into the French-speaking country of Mali. Sharing our existing channels – Zee Magic and Zee Cinema with new audiences is a huge achievement for us and we thank TNTSAT for allowing us to bring the best of Bollywood to all their viewers in Mali.”

    Zee TV Africa CEO Harish Goyal stated: “In another major deal, within just four weeks of its launch, our 24-hour dedicated English-dubbed Bollywood movie channel, Zee Bollymovies will now be available on DStv, the largest DTH platform in Sub-Saharan Africa. ZEE has already witnessed tremendous success over the past two years on DStv with Zee World, its English-dubbed General Entertainment channel and with the addition of Zee Bollymovies on this platform, we hope to further raise the level of entertainment for our dedicated viewers.”

    Zee Magic, launched in October 2015, is a General Entertainment channel dubbed in French which brings the best of Bollywood series and food shows to Francophone Africa, while Zee Cinema is a 24-hour Hindi Bollywood Movie channel catering to South Asians on the continent. In Mali, Zee Magic and Zee Cinema will be available on TNTSAT Africa in the ‘Divas offer’, a high standard package that is tailor-made for viewers.

    Zee Bollymovies, a 24-hour specially customized movie channel dubbed in English, launched in January 2017 in Africa. DStv will first premiere Zee Bollymovies in South Africa and then take it to the rest of the continent to market Bollywood entertainment to Africa. With these exciting new additions from ZEE, Africa now has a first-row seat to watch the best of content – Bollywood movies, television series and food shows – that India has to offer!

  • Zee set to launch channel in France with dubbed/sub-titled content

    Zee set to launch channel in France with dubbed/sub-titled content

    NEW DELHI: Zee TV, which has among the largest number of Indian channels being telecast in foreign languages in different countries, is shortly launching a channel in France.

    Zee founder and Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) Member of Parliament Subhash Chandra told indiantelevision.com that the group, which had recently launched a channel in Germany, Zee One Germany, is aiming to launch in France to expand reach and target the Indian programme loving French and people of South Asian origin.

    “The French channel could be launched within six months or so,” he added without giving a fixed time frame or outlining whether the channel may also at some point of time carry original French content.

    Zee, which through a plethora of TV channels (some of which are dubbed in local languages in various countries) was already reaching 200 million viewers overseas, aims “to increase that reach to 500 million”. Speaking on the sidelines of the SATCAB meet organized here by the All India Dish Antenna Aavishkaar Sangh here yesterday, Chandra said that France was until now receiving the channel launched by the group for the United Kingdom.

    Zee at present has channels in foreign languages running in UAE/KSA (Arab), Russia, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Africa/Mauritius, the Caribbean, United States, Canada and Brazil.

    According to Chandra, content from Hollywood dominates the world and it earns 65 per cent from overseas markets, while only 35 per cent from within the US market. “India with its content of feature films and appealing television programmes can also make a mark overseas,” he added.

    While pointing out that in the international market, Zee had “successfully” taken popular domestic content in the original as well as repurposed form to focus not just on the South Asian diaspora, but on a wider cross section of global audiences, Zee Entertainment Enterprises MD and Chandra’s elder son Punit Goenka had said in the company’s annual report for FY 2015-16, “This strategy is working for beyond boundaries and being true to our philosophy of `The World is My Family’. Our popular channels in this context like Zee World, Zee Aflam and Zee Magic have witnessed substantial viewership growth in their respective markets. ZEEL expanded its reach to the Asia Pacific region through channels like Zee Bioskop and Zee Nung.”

    Zee Bioskop reaches approximately two million homes in Indonesia and Zee Nung caters to about 2.5 million homes in Thailand.

    Launched in April, 2015 as a GEC pay channel for the local Indonesian audience, Zee Hiburan, for example, is completely dubbed in Bahasa Indonesia and is also available in Hindi. Zee Sine, a 24/7 Bollywood movie channel, customised and packaged for local audiences, was launched in the Philippines in April 2016.

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  • Zee Magic launches in Indian Ocean Island on Parabole Maurice

    Zee Magic launches in Indian Ocean Island on Parabole Maurice

    MUMBAI: A month after it was launched on the Canal Plus platform in Africa, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) has launched its customised general entertainment channel Zee Magic on Parabole Maurice in the Indian Ocean Island.

     

    Dubbed in French to to accommodate the French African audience, Zee Magic is tailored for all types of viewers from movie fanatics, avid series followers, food lovers and reality show enthusiasts.

     

    Zee Magic will launch on Parabole Maurice with three series namely Remariage, La Promesse and Lien Sacre as well as Bollywood movies. 

     

    The channel has been made available on the Parabole Maurice platform on channel 144 from 5 November, 2015 onwards and will be beamed in Indian Ocean Island Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion Island and Seychelles.

     

    The move is in line with Zeel chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra’s vision to bring authentic and entertaining content to the world stage. “We want you to become a part of our growing family,” he said.

     

    “We are excited to bring Zee Magic to the Indian Ocean Island countries.  This is an indication of the hunger Africa has for Bollywood and Indian content. Our expansion on the continent brings me great joy,” added Zee TV South Africa CEO Harish Goyal.

     

    Zeel first ventured into Africa 19 years ago as the brand’s first international territory. Zee TV has been present on DSTV since 1996 and on Canal Plus since 2006.

  • Zee launches customised GEC in Africa for French audience

    Zee launches customised GEC in Africa for French audience

    MUMBAI: After launching its English general entertainment channel (GEC) – Zee World in Sub Saharan Africa early this year, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) is all set to launch another channel in the region called Zee Magic.

     

    Zee Magic is a customised GEC for French audiences in Africa, showcasing French dubbed Indian movies, series, food, reality shows and more. 

     

    The channel will be available on the Canal Plus Overseas platform on #51 from 1 October, 2015.

     

    Zee Magic will launch with three award winning series namely Remariage, La Promesse and Lien Sacre along with a host of Bollywood movies.

     

    Essel Group & Zeel chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra said, “Our corporate philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ meaning ‘The world is my family’ is at the forefront of bringing authentic and entertaining content to our fast growing audiences across the globe.”

     

    “Zee Magic is a dedicated French offering from Zee for Francophone Africa. All content has undergone extensive research and we are very excited to be the first to offer Bollywood in French to our viewers,” added Zee TV Africa CEO Harish Goyal.

     

    With a worldwide presence with over 36 international channels across 169 countries, Zeel first ventured into Africa 19 years ago as the brand’s first international territory. Its flagship channel Zee TV has been present on DSTV since 1996 and on Canal Plus since 2006.