MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council is the independent self-regulatory body for non-news general entertainment channels

    BCCC received 8,628 complaints as of Nov ’12

    By A Correspondent

     

    There has been a rapid increase in the number of complaints being handled by the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), following the various measures implemented by the IBF’s member channels and increased awareness among the Indian television audience.

     

    The BCCC is the independent self-regulatory body for non-news general entertainment channels, set up by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) in June 2011. The council came into being after consultations between the IBF and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to implement ‘Self-Regulatory Guidelines and Complaints Redressal Mechanism’ for all non-news channels, including general entertainment, children and special interest channels.

     

    The council held a conference in New Delhi recently, which was addressed by BCCC Chairperson Justice (Retd) AP Shah, IBF President Man Jit Singh, BCCC Members Shabana Azmi and Bhaskar Ghose, and IBF Vice President Rajat Sharma. Also present were BCCC Broadcast Members Ashok Nambissan (MSM Media Pvt. Ltd.) and Sujit Jain (Viacom 18).

     

    BCCC Chairman Justice Shah said, “The BCCC has taken a serious note of complaints relating to women and children and issued advisories in this regard. Broadcasters should strictly avoid showing children below the age of 12 dancing to item numbers. The treatment of children during the course of the programme is also important. Stereotyping of women should be discouraged in TV programmes.”

     

    “We have made certain suggestions and recommendations to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting with regard to Clause 10.2 of the Uplinking Guidelines. We feel a provision for graded financial penalty can be introduced in for serious violations by channels,” Justice Shah added. The BCCC submitted a report to the MI&B in this respect on January 22, 2013.

     

    IBF President Man Jit Singh said, “Self-regulation is the most appropriate way to handle content on television. The BCCC is a truly independent council that looks into complaints from all over the country. The broadcasters take all recommendations, directions and advisories of the BCCC very seriously and will continue to support the council’s efforts.”

     

    BCCC Member Shabana Azmi said, “Freedom of speech and expression, especially artistic freedom, is very important and a democratic right. This freedom, however, comes with responsibility, and this is where BCCC plays an important role. At BCCC, we hear the channels when serious complaints come before us. We are happy to say that there has been full compliance of the BCCC’s directives by the member channels.”

     

    IBF Vice President Mr Sharma said, “The BCCC is a credible and successful system of self-regulation that has been functioning for 21 months now. It has done good work and we are sure it will continue to do so.”

     

    BCCC Member Bhaskar Ghose said: “At present, debates relating to content and similar issues cater only to a defined audience. We feel its scope needs to be expanded with fruitful participation of a much wider audience in society.”

     

    Till November 30, 2012, BCCC has received 8,628 complaints and suggestions, including 1,072 specific complaints. So far, BCCC has issued seven advisories to the member channels on different topics of concern. During the personal hearings, the BCCC gives an opportunity to the concerned channel’s Standard & Practices heads/Content heads to place their point of view and arrive at appropriate action as per the established norms of self-regulation.

     

    The BCCC has also held two interactive sessions with Channel heads/ S&P heads/ Content heads to develop a better understanding about the IBF’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines and to make television content suitable for unrestricted viewing.

     

    The BCCC has decided to hold similar sensitization sessions with S&P heads of channels in other parts of the country.

     

  • DDB Health & Lifestyle along with NFDC has launched ‘Mitti’, an anthem for the National Population Register

    DDB, NFDC go back to roots for govt film

    By A Correspondent

     

    DDB Health & Lifestyle along with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), a Government of India enterprise, has launched the ‘Mitti’ anthem for The National Population Register, on behalf of the Office of the Registrar General, India.

     

    Brief: Make people aware about NPR, its importance and process through which every resident of India feels motivated to get his/her identity validated.

     

    Objective: Create awareness about the National Population Register. Establish the relevance of participating in the National Population Register amongst the residents of the country.

     

    Challenge: India is a population of over 1.2 billion hailing from 28 states and 7 union territories. Our various cultures, traditions and languages make us different from each other in more ways than one. This makes communication a challenging task. This challenge was further magnified for the National Population Register where the aim was to create a single register that amassed information about all the residents of the second most populous country in the world – India.

     

    Brand Idea: My Identity, My Pride

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtEUIvs3Q_8[/youtube]

    Creative thought: The need was to identify a common sentiment, a sentiment that would inspire all equally to become a part of the National Population Register. A sentiment that would bind us all like leaves, branches and fruits of a tree. We found the answer in our root – our Mitti (soil).

     

    The Mitti film is a call to individuals to embrace their identity stemming from the soil. It is a call to unite and participate with pride in the nation’s attempt to create a single register about all the residents of India – the National Population Register.

     

    The film does this by capturing people from various walks of life in various moods. The highlights of the film include Mitti reaching out to people, people’s celebration of patriotism and a cultural extravaganza that serves as an ultimate visual feast. All this weaved together by a symphony of melodies from different regions that takes the viewer to an emotional high of “Mitti se hi shaan, Mitti se hi pehchaan!”

     

    “We have been commissioned by the Ministry to spearhead this campaign, where DDB Mudra has handled the creative execution in close association with NFDC. Managing the campaign on behalf of NPR is a step forward in NFDC’s endeavor to function as a 360 degrees agency for government clients”, said Nina Lath Gupta, Managing Director and Producer, NFDC (National Film Development Corporation).

     

    Soumitra Sen

    Soumitra Sen, President, DDB Health & Lifestyle, said, “Advertising professionals often have to wait a lifetime to get an opportunity to work on a campaign that will shape behavior and impact humankind for generations to come. The DDB Mudra Group feels proud of the opportunity to work with the GOI project, the National Population Register closely with NFDC. This has resulted in the first creative communication capsule based on the theme of the umbilical cord like relationship that we all have subliminally with our soil. We are working on the next phases of the campaign to motivate all Indian residents to register.”

     

     

    Credits

    Chairman & CCO – Sonal Dabral

    President – Soumitra Sen

    Office Head – Urvashi Guha

    Account Management – Durba Gogia, Subhendu Kumar

    Account Planning – Jeffrey Jose

    Group Creative Director – Ravinder Siwach

    Creative Director – Saritha Shivshankar, Partha Majee

    Director – Lloyd Baptista, 7 Films

     

  • BCCC Chairperson Justice (Retd) AP Shah tells MxMIndia about the complaints that the broadcast authority receives, and what is being done about them

    Jaldi 5 with BCCC chief AP Shah: Unedited foreign programmes lead to more complaints

    By Ananya Saha

     

    The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council received 8,628 complaints and suggestions as of November 30, 2012. Should it be a cause for concern? Should the industry focus more on self-regulation? MxM India spoke to BCCC Chairperson Justice (Retd) AP Shah about the issue.

     

    1. What kind of role does BCCC play in the regulation of the broadcast medium?

    We have to strike a balance between preserving free speech and expression on the one hand, and on the other see that the guidelines and advisories are followed.

     

    2. What are the major complaints or suggestions that BCCC gets?

    Broadly 47 percent of complaints are on sex, vulgarity and nudity. Some 30-40 percent pertain to harm and violence. Others are related to religion or are general complaints. I think the complaints have increased due to increase in import of foreign programmes, which are telecast unedited.

     

    3. What is the advisory you issue on ‘unedited’ programmes?

    Some are asked to go off-air, or some episode is asked to be pulled. Or be put in night slot, which is the restricted slot of 11 pm to 5 am. Or we ask them to modify the content. The good thing is that when it comes to self-regulation, we have had 100 percent compliance from the channels.

     

    4. What about content on regional entertainment channels?

    Yes, there are concerns in regards to regional channels. We receive a large number of complaints from South but since we do not know the language it becomes a problem. We get complaints in language programmes such as Kannada, Telugu, Tamil; not so much in Malayalam though. We need to have a BCCC person in South India who understands the languages.

     

    5. Does MIB interfere with BCCC’s advisories?

    No. There are times when the ministry refers a complaint to us. But the ministry has not interfered with our work. We have fairly succeeded in implementing the guidelines.

     

  • The NRI and PIO convention held in Kochi was an opportunity for the broadcaster to interact with the Indian diaspora as well as government bodies dealing with overseas Indians

    SET Asia participates in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

    By A Correspondent

     

    The 13th Annual Pravasi Bharitiya Divas (PBD) recently concluded in Kochi. The three-day event, held on January 9, commemorates the day that Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa.

     

    The PBD conventions are held with an aim to provide the overseas Indian diaspora with a platform to engage with the Indian government. Various seminars on topics like Tourism, Pure Sciences, Growth opportunities in India, Heritage and Diaspora and investment opportunities in different states were held across the three days.

     

    The event was inaugurated by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee were also present at the event.

     

    In conjunction with the event, an exhibition was also organized which gave companies interested in targeting NRIs and PIOs an opportunity to interact with each other, as well as the delegates who were attending the event.

     

    Among the various banking, real estate, state boards and media companies, Sony Entertainment Television Asia was a key exhibitor. Sony Network’s vast global presence especially catering to NRIs and PIOs made it an automatic fit for the exhibition. Sony showcased their programming and distribution strength in the international markets and received many enquiries for the same.

     

  • Given the NewsCorp acquisition, the popular sports channel will be rechristened from Monday

    ESPN to turn Fox Sports from Jan 28?… though not likely in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Is ESPN turning into Fox Sports come Monday?

     

    Although there is no official word from the now NewsCorp -owned sports network, trade sources suggest that it will be rechristened Fox Sports, the world’s leading sports media brand, in Asia, including the Philippines.

     

    According to buzz doing the rounds, it is being said that all ESPN networks will now be named Fox Sports from January 28. While ESPN, the flagship sports channel, will be called Fox Sports, ESPN HD is likely to be called Fox Sports Plus. Star Sports, Star Cricket and Star Cricket HD will stay unchanged.

     

    But an official from ESPN clarified that there will be no such change that will be reflected in India.

     

    There is no information on programming-level changes. There have been some announcements on internet feeds on the change, though these have not been authenticated by ESPN Star to MxMIndia.

     

  • A new initiative by the English news channel promises people the chance to be heard

    Headlines Today introduces ‘Right to Be Heard’

    By A Correspondent

     

    English News Channel Headlines Today has introduced a nationwide new campaign, ‘Right to Be Heard’. Under this campaign, Headlines Today will give the activist in every Indian a platform to speak and the channel will ensure that it is heard.

     

    The website www.righttobeheard.in has an option where people can upload their videos, comments and issues they want to raise. There is also a hotline number they can call to record their message, following which a Headlines Today team will get in touch with them.

     

    The channel has started two new shows in sync with this campaign – ‘The Right to be Heard’ and ‘RTH Town Hall’. The Right to be Heard show will raise and highlight the problems raised by the people of the country and which will then be investigated by the Headlines Today editorial team. It covers stories such as “Save River Yamuna”, “Increasing Noise pollution in the urban India”, “Right to Education for every Indian” and “Garbage issues in Bangalore”. The RTH Town Hall show is a weekly talk show that provides a platform for the public to debate the issues that concern them the most with the people in authority are to answer all their concerns.

     

    The channel has undertaken a 360-degree marketing campaign including OOH, TV, Print and Digital.

     

    Commenting on the initiative, Ashish Bagga, CEO, India Today Group said, “With this initiative we are aiming to reach out to the growth-aspiring Indian, who after his tireless efforts over many years is still helpless and ignored by the authorities in the system. We will support the campaign with extensive editorial coverage with special stories and shows to encourage viewers to come out and voice their concerns.”

     

    Vivek Malhotra, Vice president Marketing, Strategic Planning & Research – TV Today Network said, “At Headlines Today, we firmly believe that news reporting has a larger role than merely providing people with facts and information. What we do has the power to transform a society; to change people’s lives. Look at what’s happening around us – people have become more self-aware and are voicing their displeasure. In a country where traditionally we have been a ‘voiceless’ population that has to ‘make do’ with whatever is decided by the agents in power, today things are changing and people are ensuring their voices are being heard. Our new campaign whole-heartedly endorses this healthy attitude and tells people that voicing their concerns and problems to the authorities is their right to be heard.”

     

    The TVC, conceived by Black Pencil, follows a politician, a symbolic representative of a person in power but far removed from the common man of today, who ignores a woman on the street who is trying to talk to him but then can’t seem to get away from the voice of the woman – the voice of a common man (in this case the woman) demands justice.

     

    Samarjit Choudhry, Executive Director, Black Pencil India said, “We pride ourselves on being the world’s largest democracy – where each citizen has certain fundamental rights as laid out in the Constitution (including the right to speech). Juxtapose this with one of the biggest grouses we all have against the establishment – that no one listens to us. What emerged was this – shouldn’t the ‘Right to be Heard’ also be as fundamental as every other right that we have as Indian citizens? That was the genesis of the campaign. If Headlines Today could stand for something through which people could exercise their right to be heard, our campaign would have done its job. The beauty of this TVC is in the story-telling. It is a stark and haunting reminder to the people in power that they can’t brush people’s voices under the carpet any more.”

     

    Client: TV Today Network

    Client team: Kush Rai

    Agency: Black Pencil India

    Creative team: Shweta Ahuja & Shadab Abidi

    Production house: Purple Vishnu Films

    Director: Sainath Choudhury

     

  • Divya Radhakrishnan's Helios Media has been awarded the mandate to manage the revenue monetization of Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's FoodFood channel

    Helios bags sales mandate for FoodFood

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading food channel has awarded its revenue monetization mandate to Helios Media, the Divya Radhakrishnan-led speciality services company for broadcasters with verticals in sales, marketing, content advisory, content syndication and research and traffic management. The mandate was earlier held by Media Agnos.

     

    FoodFood is a joint venture between well-known Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Malaysia-based media conglomerate Astro Media. Chef Kapoor is well-known for his popular shows like ‘Khana Khazana’ on Zee TV and his recent association with ‘Masterchef’ on Star Plus. Confirming the news, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Co-founder & Director of FoodFood, said, “Our decision to partner with Helios Media is based on our assessment of its team’s strength and ability. In a unique offering and destination such as FoodFood, it is imperative that the team has deep understanding of aspirational needs of brands and viewers alike. The passion displayed by Helios reassures me that it would not only meet FoodFood’s expectation but also exceed it.”

     

    The channel has just celebrated its second anniversary and has been popular among the core segment of women for its programming, like the most recent ‘Secret Recipe’ and other popular shows like ‘Sanjeev Kapoor’s Kitchen’, ‘Turban Tadka’, ‘Mummy Ka Magic’ and ‘Style Chef’.

     

    Divya Radhakrishnan

    Commenting on the win, Divya Radhakrishnan, MD, Helios Media, said, “We are extremely honoured for the faith instilled by Sanjeev and team on Helios Media and for awarding us the business. With a dedicated food channel and even the GECs going the food route with primetime reality shows, we know that the food space is just beginning to simmer. ”

     

    Adds Bala Iyengar, Business Director of Helios Media: “Helios Media has the ability to not just sell space, but sell brand perceptions as well, and that is extremely critical in the niche channel scenario. We are confident about synergizing the FoodFood brand values with the clients’ marketing objectives to give solutions working for both the channel and the advertisers. With our strong infrastructure of teams across the country and evolved process, we are all set to take FoodFood to glorious heights.”

     

    Meanwhile, Media Agnos – set up by seasoned broadcast professionals Abraham (Abe) Thomas and Sumit  Gupta – will continue to handle the mandate for NDTV Good Times and Explore TV amongst others.

     

  • Nick India, Viacom18's kids brand, in association with one of India's leading retailers, Mahindra Retail, have introduced a new range of adventure toys

    Nick India & Mahindra Retail partner for kids’ adventure toys range

    By A Correspondent

     

    Nick India, Viacom18’s kids brand, in association with leading retailer Mahindra Retail, have introduced a new range of adventure toys – Play Nation ‘Royal Express & Play Nation Speed Racing’. This collection of toys will help kids experience a combination of thrill and excitement, plus enable them to build their own racing paths right from scratch.

     

    Powered by Nickelodeon, the range of DIY toys consists of a train set called Play Nation Royal Express and a car set called Play Nation Speed Racing. The sets are available in three versions and are priced between Rs 1,499 and Rs 4,999. Available in over 1000 retail outlets in the country, kids can buy their sets at all prominent stores.

     

    Multiple players can compete against each other, thus adding to the interactivity and play value. The Play Nation Speed Racing range of toys have special features like speed control, changeable routes, working red lights and magnetic base amongst others, whereas the Play Nation Royal Express boasts of features like backward action, infrared control, auto hinge and working headlights.

     

    Sandeep Dahiya, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products & Communications, Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, said, “We’re happy to partner with Mahindra Retail to extend our brand to ‘Royal Express’ and ‘Speed Racing’. Given their unique features, the range is sure to excite our young consumers with its action, speed and engineering aspects.” He further added, “This partnership is in line with our plan to extend brand ‘Nickelodeon’ to categories that are relevant as well as exciting, through interesting collaboration like this.”

     

    Deepinder Kapany, Executive Vice President, Distribution Business & Beanstalk, Mahindra Retail, added, “We are extremely delighted with this new association with Nickelodeon. The launch of the Play Nation Royal Express and the Play Nation Speed Racing is only the beginning to excite kids to make their very own railway and racing tracks! It’s more than just fun, as these products can help build teamwork abilities, develop the kids motor and coordination skills while the child has fun and is being entertained in a healthy manner. Our association with Nickelodeon is a perfect platform to launch these toys that are synonymous to fun, entertainment, development and adventure, just like Nickelodeon.”

     

    The association will also include marketing activities like on-air promotion, consumer interactivity, digital and radio that will help in engagement with kids.

     

  • Starting Feb 2, the special series will capture the passion of social entrepreneurs who are changing the face of India

    Bloomberg TV India gets ‘Down to Earth’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Bloomberg TV India, business news channel, has announced the launch of ‘Down to Earth’, a special series that will highlight cutting edge developments in philanthropy and the social sector in India. It is a series that celebrates the spirit of social entrepreneurship. Strategic philanthropy foundation Dasra is Bloomberg TV India’s ‘Knowledge Partner’ for the series.

     

    The series will be telecast every Saturday at 1.30pm and Sunday at 11.30am on Bloomberg TV India. The first episode of the series will be telecast on Saturday, February 2.

     

    Down to Earth will chronicle the stories of four social entrepreneurs: Inir Pinheiro of Grassroutes, Naveen Krishna of SMV Wheels, Rajesh Shah of Sabras and Shilpi Kapoor of Barrier Break Technologies who are leading organisations that are successfully applying business ideas to create social good, employment and provide access to improved livelihood opportunities for the poor and downtrodden.

     

    Inir Pinheiro, Owner, Grassroutes, said, “The greatest challenge in India is the lack of opportunities, especially livelihood opportunities. With this thought in mind, we explored tourism, which is known to be a good mechanism for economic development. The key to developing any livelihood is sustainability and that is the prime reason I chose social entrepreneurship. In order to preserve this country we need to create sustainable livelihood opportunities and our endeavour is to create a million such opportunities.”

     

    Naveen Krishna, Managing Director, SMV Wheels, said, “I had witnessed the social and economic exploitation of cycle rickshaw pullers since my childhood and wanted to do something to improve their lives. If we support a community that works the hardest, yet amongst the poorest, and bring a small change in their lives it will be the best success story for the other similar communities. The smile and confidence they have after becoming the owner of their cycle rickshaw is my biggest encouragement.”

     

    Rajesh Shah, Chairman and Founder, Sabras, said, “My journey into social entrepreneurship started 35 years ago. After lobbying with the government to provide land to poor agriculture labourers, I realized the need to focus on wealth generation for these farmers by increasing their access to technology, markets and institutional credit. I was driven to find solutions for mainstreaming the marginalized through combining cause and commerce. I believe that in order to achieve inclusive growth one needs to reach out to the poor and help them run their enterprises professionally and achieve wealth generation.”

     

    Shilpi Kapoor, Founder Director, Barrier Break Technologies, said, “I always wanted to work with technology but didn’t want to do the usual things. I realized that it was difficult for the disabled to move around or use infrastructure and the use of web and technology could help solve this problem. I was intrigued by how people with disabilities would be impacted by technology and decided to pursue this as a career. I had always wanted to be an entrepreneur because I believe that a team of passionate and committed people can achieve lot more than what a single person could. I wanted to make a difference and this proved to be the right path for me.”

     

  • New aggregation and distribution company will have a combined bouquet of 35 channels owned by both partners

    IndiaCast, Disney UTV agree to form JV

    By A Correspondent

     

    In what could impact the marketplace in a digitized distribution scenario, Indiacast, the jv between TV18 and Viacom18 which happened in June last year, and UGBL, a Disney UTV group company, have announced a strategic joint venture for the aggregation and wholesale distribution of their respective TV channels.

     

    Anuj Gandhi

    The 74 (IndiaCast) : 26 (Disney UTV) joint venture will become operational after necessary regulatory approvals and will provide 35 channels from the TV18, Viacom18,  Disney UTV & A+E Networks | TV18 to Cable, DTH and HITS platforms in India. IndiaCast CEO Anuj Gandhi will be the Chief Executive Officer of the yet unnamed entity.

     

    Talking about the joint venture, Mr Gandhi said, “This partnership will build a strong distribution company that will offer a broader and more diversified range to platforms giving us a foothold across genres – including in general entertainment, general and business news, movies, youth and kids genres. We have had a great first year for IndiaCast and this JV will give our domestic distribution business scale and wider reach.”

     

    “There are some clear and unique synergies in this partnership. The new bouquet is a more comprehensive offering from the viewer’s perspective that gives the combined entity an edge in the marketplace”, said MK Anand, Managing Director – Media Networks, Disney UTV.

     

    IndiaCast will move its domestic distribution business into this new venture, while continuing to manage its other content monetization businesses which include the international distribution, adsales and content sales business as well as the new media distribution for TV 18, Viacom 18, A+E Networks | TV18 and Eenadu channels. Disney UTV will also move its domestic distribution activities for its bouquet of all nine channels to the new entity.

     

  • With the launch of Times Television Network's Times Now and Zoom on Canada's major cable distribution company Cogeco Cable, the network is now directly available in 45 countries

    Times TV Network expands footprint to 45 countries

    By A Correspondent

     

    Times Television Network (TTN) has recently launched its channels, Times Now and Zoom, on Canada’s major cable distribution company Cogeco Cable. With this launch, TTN is now directly available in 45 countries across four continents on leading cable, DTH, IPTV and mobile platforms.

     

    Indians residing abroad form a substantial diaspora that is keen to stay connected with the latest in news and entertainment content from India. With relatively higher per capita income than most other ethnic groups residing abroad, the Indian and South Asian diaspora also displays a higher propensity to pay for premium content and services. TTN channels are already popular brands among the Indian community residing abroad and by using a mix of localized marketing and programming events in respective international markets, TTN has further strengthened its connect with the Indian diaspora there. TTN will be extending its international presence further this year with its impending launch in Europe.

     

    Sunil Lulla

    Commenting on the success of the international business, Sunil Lulla, Managing Director and CEO, TTN, said, “Times Television Network has found great resonance with the viewers from the Indian Diaspora. Despite having launched only quite recently in some of the markets, the brands have gained the same stature and respect as they have here. TIMES NOW is a daily news habit and zoOm the first port of call for Bollywood. We expect to penetrate more geographies shortly. Increasingly, we are able to bring strong solutions to advertisers for their brands in these respective geographies.”

     

    With over 60 advertisers already on board the channel feeds in the USA, Canada, Singapore, UAE, Australia & New Zealand, TTN’s international business is setting a strong pace in growing its advertising revenue stream. Leveraging the network strength further, TTN is also in discussion with other content owners and broadcasters in India and South Asia for alliances that will see TTN taking their content and channels into international markets.

     

  • Zee TV has appointed Ethnic Channels Group to represent the brand in Canada, with full distribution from day one

    Zee partners ECG to launch Zee TV Canada

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zee TV, the #1 South Asian Entertainment Network in partnership with Ethnic Channels Group Limited (ECG), Canada’s largest distributor of third language television services, launches Zee TV Canada!

     

    Zee TV will be available to Canadian viewers as a 24/7 service for the first time. Zee TV Canada will be available on Rogers, Bell and Telus starting February 1.

     

    Said Zee Americas CEO Suresh Bala, “The impact and growing importance of the South Asian diaspora in Canada cannot be overstated. And with the launch of Zee TV Canada, we are now in a position to address this significant opportunity. Zee has and continues to remain the leading South Asian media brand globally. 650 million viewers in 169 countries around the world are testament to its popularity. We are fortunate to have found an energetic and progressive partner in ECG and we are confident that this partnership will help us to exponentially grow our business in Canada.”

     

    “Ethnic Channels Group is privileged to partner with the #1 South Asian Channel in the World. Canadian viewers will be enthralled by Zee’s programming repertoire,” said Slava Levin Co-founder and CEO of Ethnic Channels Group.

     

    “As the largest distributor of international TV in Canada, the launch of Zee TV is a great addition to our Group,” added Hari Srinivas, President of Ethnic Channels Group.

     

    Zee now has six channels in Canada catering to the diverse group of viewers. ETC Punjabi, Zing, Zee Salaam, Zee Tamizh and Zee Cinema will now be joined by Zee TV Canada as a 24/7 channel! More information is available at www.zeetvcanada.ca or at the toll free number 1-855-WANT-Zee (1-855-9268-933).