Zee TV is a Hindi language general entertainment channel owned by the Essel Group in India. It is associated with several other sister channels which provide services in Marathi, Hindi, English and several regional languages of India.
Zee TV and its sister channels are operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Essel Group. The chairman of the group is Subhash Chandra, who is a Bharatiya Janata Partybacked member of the Rajya Sabha. Zee TV was launched on 2 October 1992 as the flagship channel of the Zee Telefirms Ltd (later renamed to Zee Entertainment Enterprises). The channel was the first Hindi language subscription channel in India.
Contents
- History
- TV Channels
- Present channels
- “&” branded channels
- “Big” branded channels
- Defunct channels
- International channels
- Programming
- Zee Rishtey Awards
- Controversy
- References
- External links
History
In 1982, the Empire Holding Ltd company of the Essel Group was converted into Zee Telefilms Ltd as part of the Essel Group venture into mass media and entertainment. The Zee TV channel was launched as the flagship channel of the company. The channel went on air for the first time on 1 October 1992. In 1993, it began operating as a 24/7 channel. Zee Telefirms Ltd was converted into the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd on 10 January 2007, which continues to operate the entertainment channels of the Zee Network. In 2013, Zee TV along with its sister channels went over a branding overhaul. On 15 October 2017, coinciding 25 years Silver Jubliee of Zee Network along with Zee TV all other sister channels went a revamp. On 30 May 2021, Zee TV will be doing a revamp with a new logo and it’s content and that more than four shows will be replaced and put off air.
TV Channels
The Zee Enterntainment Enterprises Ltd is the mass media company which operates the Zee Network, most of which are subscription based with some exceptions. Zee TV is the flagship channel of the company. The Zee Network consists of a number channels in the genres of general entertainment, movies, lifestyle and travel. The Zee Entertainment Enterprises also operates a number of channels under sister brands such as “&”, “Big”.
Present channels
- Zee TV is a Hindi language general entertainment channel. It is the flagship channel of the company.
- Zee Anmol is a Hindi language general entertainment channel.
- Zing is a Hindi language music channel. It was formerly branded as Zee Music.
- Zee Cinema is a Hindi language movie channel.
- Zee Action is a Hindi language movie channel primarily featuring action movies.
- Zee Bollywood is a Hindi language movie channel primarily featuring bollywood movies.
- Zee Classic is a Hindi language movie channel primarily featuring classical bollywood movies.
- Zee Anmol Cinema is a Hindi language movie channel.
- Zee Café is an English language general entertainment channel. It was formerly branded as Zee English.
- Zee Marathi is a Marathi language general entertainment channel. It was previously branded as Alpha Marathi.
- Zee Yuva is a Marathi language general entertainment channel, marketed towards younger generations.
- Zee Talkies is a Marathi language movie channel.
- Zee Chitramandir is a Marathi language free-to-air movie channel.
- Zee Vajwa is a Marathi language music channel.
- Zee Tamil is a Tamil language general entertainment channel.
- Zee Thirai is a Tamil language movie channel.
- Zee Telugu is a Telugu language general entertainment channel. It was previously branded as Alpha Telugu.
- Zee Cinemalu is a Telugu language movie channel.
- Zee Keralam is a Malayalam language general entertainment channel.
- Zee Kannada is a Kannada language general entertainment channel.
- Zee Picchar is a Kannada language movie channel.
- Zee Bangla is a Bengali language general entertainment channel. It was previously branded as Alpha Bangla.
- Zee Bangla Cinema is a Bengali language movie channel.
- Zee Sarthak is an Odia language general entertainment channel. It was previously branded as Sarthak TV.
- Zee Punjabi is a Punjabi language general entertainment channel.
- Zee Biskope is a Bhojpuri language movie channel.
- Zee Zest is a Hindi and an English language lifestyle Channel and has replaced Living Foodz.
“&” branded channels
- & TV is a Hindi language general entertainment channel.
- &pictures is a Hindi language movie channel.
- &xplor HD is a Premium segment Hindi language movie channel.
- &flix is an English language movie channel. It was formerly branded as Zee MGM, Zee Movie Zone and Zee Studio.
- &privé HD is a Premium segment English language movie channel.
“Big” branded channels
- Big Magic is a Hindi language general entertainment channel. It is marketed as a comedy channel. It was acquired from Reliance Big Broadcasting Pvt Ltd.
- Big Ganga is a Bhojpuri language general entertainment channel. It is primarily targeted at audiences in Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal. It was acquired from Reliance Big Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd.
Defunct channels
- Zee Next was a Hindi language general entertainment channel.
- Zindagi was a Hindi language general entertainment channel.
- 9X was a Hindi language general entertainment channel, acquired from 9X Media.
- Zee Jagran was a Hindi language devotional channel.
- Zee Premier was a Hindi language movie channel.
- ZeeQ was a Hindi language kids channel.
- Zee ETC Bollywood was a Hindi language music channel.
- Zee Studio was an English language movie channel.
- Zee Select was an English language movie channel.
- Zee Trendz was an English language lifestyle and music channel.
- Zee Sports was a 24×7 sports television channel.
- Zee Gujarati was a Gujarati language general entertainment channel. It was previously branded as Alpha Gujarati.
- Zee ETC Punjabi was a Punjabi language general entertainment channel.
International channels
The Zee Network also consists of several channels available solely in specific countries outside India. These channels primarily broadcast movies and Zee Network shows produced in India, and dubbed in several foreign languages.
- Zee World is an English language general entertainment channel operating in South Africa.
- Zee Smile is an English language comedy centric general entertainment channel operating in United States.
- Zee Bollynova is an English language general entertainment channel operating in South Africa.
- Zee Bollymovies is an English language movie channel operating in several countries in Africa.
- Zee Magic is a French language general entertainment channel operating in France and several francophone African countries.
- Zee One is a German language general entertainment channel operating in Germany and Austria.
- Zee Bioskop is an Indonesian language general entertainment channel operating in Indonesia.
- Zee Mundo is a Spanish language movie channel operating in several Latin American countries.
- Zee Sine is a Philipino language movie channel operating in Philippines.
- Zee Aflam is an Arabic language movie channel operating in several countries of the Arab World.
- Zee Alwan is an Arabic language general entertainment channel operating in several countries of the Arab world.
- Zee Nung is a Thai language movie channel operating in Thailand.
- Zee Bing is a Thai language general entertainment channel which shows dubbed Indian TV series.
- Zee Phim is a Vietnamese language movie channel operating in Vietnam.
- Zee Living is a Lifestyle channel featuring shows from the Living Entertainment brand dubbed in English, French and German. The channel is available in India, Australia, United Kingdom, Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan.
- Zee Alem is a channel for the Ethiopia market featuring Indian drama’s, brand dubbed in Amharic. The channel is available in Ethiopia.
Programming
The channel mostly airs content intended for family and coming-of-age generations ranging from comedy to drama. It has also aired reality shows such as Shabaash India, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, I Can Do That, India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj, and Dance India Dance.
Zee TV launched a Nickelodeon-branded programming block in 1999 as part of a distribution deal between Viacom International and Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was replaced by a new Cartoon Networkblock in 2002.
Zee Rishtey Awards
Since 2007, the channel has presented an annual award show, the Zee Rishtey Awards, to performers on its show based on their popularity. Nominations for the awards are declared by the channel. The winners are selected through voting that is made online and through SMS.
Controversy
Sonu Nigam alleged that he was banned by the Zee Network after he tweeted in support of politician Dr. Kumar Vishwas.