Movie Channels
Indian channels in chase for the Oscar
With Hollywood‘s biggest event, the 74th edition of the Academy Awards, drawing nearer, English movie and news channels are going out of their way to create awareness about their respective strategies. Ashwin Pinto files this report.
Lets start with Star Movies the only channel that has the rights to the live telecast. This will take place on 25 March at 6:30 am. With India‘s Lagaan competing for the Best Foreign Film statuette, there is every chance of an improvement in show ratings.
The channel is using different sections of the media like print, radio, Internet etc to get the message across. The Star Network is also promoting the event on its other channels.
|
|
Rival movie channel HBO is running the Oscar Marathon where the channel shows one Oscar winner and one Oscar nominee. HBO‘s three point focus is range, quality and number of Oscar movies.
The channel has also tied up with Mid-Day (Mumbai‘s leading afternoon tabloid) for a creative innovation involving crossword puzzles.
BBC World is concentrating on post ceremony coverage. The channel is getting viewers ready for the big night through the documentary series The Hollywood Years. BBC‘s advertising campaign concerning the Oscars is running in cinemas throughout India this month.
BBC‘s American counterpart CNN will keep viewers up to speed with latest happenings through its news programmes. This will take prominence on 25 March when viewers tuning in to World News will get a feel of the goings on.
The Kodak Theater, venue of the 74th Academy Awards |
Let us now turn our attention to America where the show has been airing on ABC since 1976. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, ad time for the show has already been sold out. Although the rates have come down this year, the news is seen as a good sign for the ad industry, which has been struggling to cope with a recession, the report states. The going rate for a 30-second spot was $1.1-1.3 million down from $1.4 million last year.
One feature of the Oscars is that advertisers see the show as an opportunity to take advantage of female viewers. Among the companies that have bought up spots are MasterCard, Verizon, Mars and ING, among others. JC Penney has bought two 90-second spots, one of which will promote the retailer‘s coming 100-year anniversary. One point to note is that American Express, which has been a regular advertiser on the show over the years, has reduced buying time to one minute from three minutes last year.
According to the Wall Street Journal report, last year‘s show attracted viewership of 42.9 million, a fall from 46.3 million in 2000.
Movie Channels
Laughs meet chills as ‘Jhamkudi’ hits TV screens
MUMBAI: Get ready for a hauntingly good time as Jhamkudi, the Gujarati blockbuster that cast a spell on cinema-goers, makes its world television premiere on Shemaroo Josh this 14 November at 7 PM.
Directed by Umang Vyas, the film takes viewers to the eerie village of Raniwada, where Navratri celebrations are overshadowed by the curse of a vengeful witch. Enter Bablo, a quirky real estate agent, and Kumud, a royal heir, whose fates collide in a hilarious and spooky chain of events that’s equal parts chaos and charm.
The film stars national award-winning actress Manasi Parekh, who shines once again with her trademark depth and grace, alongside Viraj Ghelani, the digital sensation whose comic timing is as sharp as ever. The stellar ensemble also includes Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia, Jayesh More, Krunal Pandit, Chetan Daiya, and Bhavini Jani.
Blending goosebumps with giggles, Jhamkudi proves that even horror can have heart. With its sharp writing, witty dialogues, and a dash of desi masala, the film promises an evening of family fun that’s both thrilling and thoroughly entertaining.
So mark your calendars, grab some popcorn, and tune in to Shemaroo Josh on 14 November at 7 PM for the perfect mix of fright and delight, because this witch tale is all about wicked fun!
Movie Channels
Zee reels in record highs with a blockbuster show of movie magic
MUMBAI: In a cinematic twist worthy of its own premiere, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has pulled off a blockbuster of its own recording a three-year high share of 28.7 per cent in the Hindi movie cluster in Q2FY26. Proving that great storytelling never goes out of style, the content and technology powerhouse has reaffirmed its dominance in India’s ever-competitive movie broadcast landscape.
Leading the charge is Zee Cinema, which reclaimed its position as the No. 1 Hindi movie channel (15 plus HSM Urban) this quarter. Its line-up of premieres from the rural rumbler Jaat to the slick actioner Game Changer pulled in massive audiences. But it was Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 that truly stole the show, delivering the highest-rated movie premiere of FY26 so far. The last film to achieve a similar feat? Gadar 2, also a Zee Cinema triumph from November 2023.
Meanwhile, Zee’s Free-to-Air dynamos Anmol Cinema and Zee Action flexed their reach muscle, becoming the most-watched channels across all languages and genres. Each channel drew in more than 116 million viewers, proving that free TV still holds unbeatable sway in Indian households.
The story doesn’t end in Hindi. Zee’s regional clusters continue to script their own success stories. In Marathi, Zee Talkies, Zee Yuva, and Zee Chitramandir maintained their near-50 per cent market share, with the world television premiere of Phullwanti delivering the highest ratings of the quarter. Down south, Zee Thirai (Tamil) and Zee Cinemalu (Telugu) kept their leadership intact, while Zee Biskope in the Bhojpuri belt ranked among the top three in its market, a cinematic sweep across regions.
“The growth of our movies cluster across languages is a strong reflection of our content strategy focusing on new super-hit premieres, classic titles from our library and data-driven curation,” said a company spokesperson. “The genre’s unmatched reach and strong resonance amongst male viewers and the youth also enable it to deliver scale and strategic value to advertisers across markets.”
And those advertisers are clearly tuning in. The genre’s steady viewership and distinct audience base make Hindi movie channels a mainstay in media mixes for India’s top ten advertisers. In September 2025 alone, Zee’s 22 movie channels across six languages reached over 550 million viewers, a testament to the scale and staying power of its cinematic empire.
From Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Karan Arjun to RRR and Bobby, Zee’s vast film library continues to bridge nostalgia and novelty. Some titles have reached iconic status Hum Aapke Hain Koun, for instance, has been watched by a staggering 250 million people over the past five years, roughly equal to the population of the world’s fifth most populous country.
As Zee continues to blend data with drama and strategy with storytelling, it’s clear the brand isn’t just broadcasting films, it’s curating a cultural phenomenon. For millions of viewers across India, the show must go on and with Zee, it most certainly will
Movie Channels
Lights, camera, boo! &pictures turns full on spooky
MUMBAI: Trick or treat, but make it filmi! This Halloween, &pictures is turning up the spook-o-meter with ‘Full On Halloween’, a fun-horror movie marathon airing all day on 31 October 2025. Promising goosebumps, giggles and ghostly surprises, the channel is set to deliver a perfect mix of fright and fun.
From eerie small-town tales to supernatural showdowns, the line-up packs in something for everyone. The chills kick off at 8:45 am with Kakuda, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh, followed by the mischievous The Bhootni at 3:15 pm, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Palak Tiwari and Mouni Roy. At 5:30 pm, Phone Bhoot dials up laughs and scares with Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi, before the visually rich folklore fantasy Tumbbad closes the night at 10:40 pm.
Adding to the fun are K3 Kaali Ka Karishma, Om Bheem Bush, and Bhaagmathi, keeping the thrills fresh and spooky spirits high. With a blend of humour, horror, and high-energy storytelling, Full On Halloween promises a day where jump scares meet joyrides.
So this 31 October, grab your popcorn and your courage, because Halloween on &pictures isn’t just on… it’s Full On!
-
e-commerce1 month agoSwiggy Instamart’s GOV surges 103 per cent year on year to Rs 7,938 crore
-
iWorld1 year agoKuku TV transforms India’s OTT space with vertical microdrama boom
-
News Headline2 months agoFrom selfies to big bucks, India’s influencer economy explodes in 2025
-
News Headline1 year agoTRAI puts a ‘stop’ to unsolicited calls and messages
-
News Headline1 year agoAbhishek Bachchan joins as co-owner of European T20 Premier League
-
Comedy2 years agoTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah celebrates 4,000 episodes
-
MAM2 years agoOpenAI joins C2PA steering committee
-
News Headline2 years agoOdisha to host Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 from December 24





