After launch of Zee Alem in Ethiopia Zee Africa says it's looking at further bespoke regional and language-specific channels for the continent in the future.

by Thinus Ferreira

Zee Africa, a division of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, says that it's growing collection of TV channels across Africa, is finding traction with the continent's viewers and that it's looking at possible expanding with further bespoke regional and language-specific offerings in the future.

Recently Zee Africa added Zee Alem as a new TV channel to its expanding offering on the Africa continent on 22 June 2020. Zee Alehm broadcasts in the Amharic language for Ethiopia.

"The uptake of Zee Amharic gives us the confidence to pursue more such regional opportunities.

We have tested waters in the regional space with programming in Swahili and Zulu languages and found a definite gap for Indian content," says Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee Africa & Asia Pacific.

"Zee Alem is the first channel launched in an African language and with the large amount of positive responses from our viewers, we are exploring new markets for similar launches in the future."

Zee already has two successful mainstream channels, Zee World in English and Zee Magic in French, which cater to Anglophone and Francophone viewers across the African continent.

"We have always strived to be innovative in our approach to new markets, which has opened up new opportunities to grow our local footprint on the continent," says Ratna Siriah, Zee Africa business head for Africa & Indian Ocean Islands.

Currently, there are 9 Zee channels across the continent with 6 bespoke feeds bring viewers a curated collection of the best of Indian content to Africa. 

Various Zee channels groupings are carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as on StarTimes' in sub-Saharan Africa and its StarSat in South Africa; as well as on Canal+ Afrique in sub-Saharan Africa

Zee Africa's French-dubbed Bollywood channel, Zee Magic, added to China's StarTimes and StarSat in Africa.

Zee Africa has added channel carriage of its Zee Magic channel that broadcast general entertainment content in French to China's StarTimes and StarSat satellite pay-TV service, widening its reach of Bollywood content under African audiences.

Zee Magic (StarSat 41 / StarSat 618) is now available to French-speaking audiences in African countries including Senegal, Gabon, Mali, Benin, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Burundi, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon and Sierra Leone.

"It is an exciting time for Zee Africa; it offers a fantastic platform to reach previously untapped parts of the francophone audience in Africa. We look forward to growing our French-speaking viewership with exceptional entertainment from Zee Magic, enjoyed by audiences across Africa," says Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee Africa and Asia Pacific.

Shows on Zee Magic include series like Gangaa, Mehek and Les Changement Du Destin (Twist of Fate). Zee Magic which is also available on Canal+ was launched October 2015 as Africa's first fully French-dubbed channel.

'The entire Soweto watches us': Zee Africa boss, Harish Goyal, on the origin-story and growth of the Zee World channel that has now led to the first-ever Bollywood drama series, Mehek, that includes an African cast.

Mehek, a new African-infused Bollywood telenovela starting on 6 April at 21:00 on Zee World (DStv 166), is an African first and marks a bold step forward for Zee World that has just turned 4 years old, testing the appetite and demand under African viewers to see black characters reflected back in Bollywood and introducing a cross-cultural love-story romance in a first-ever Africa-Bollywood drama series adaptation.

Mehek came about when Zee Africa was presented with the opportunity to adapt the Bollywood telenovela Zindagi Ki Mehek (Essence of Life) from Zee after filming in India but before the studio sets in Delhi got struck and while the Indian cast was still available.

Zee Africa jumped and in record-time got an African cast from South Africa together who went to Indian to film new scenes and an integrated story.

With new scenes filmed at a furious pace between October and December 2018 using the same directors and writers, Zindagi Ki Mehek was re-edited with the newly written script and filmed scenes to create the re-imagined and adapted version, now localised for African audiences with the Gabela family inserted.

While Mehek (still) refers to Mehek (Samiksha Jaiswal), a passionate chef who falls in love, Mehek now include the Gabela family that moved from Africa to India after son Dennis (Kamogelo Mogale) has been accused of a crime, father Eddie (Ndaba ka Ngwane), mom Leleti (Nomava Kibare) and daughter Norah (Shonisani Masutha) who falls in love with Karan.

Talent agency Thespians provided the actors for the Gabela family with agent Marius Meyer who lived together in the same accommodation in India for the duration of filming.

"Our extraordinary journey started 4 years ago on 3 February 2015 when we launched Zee World," said Harish Goyal, the CEO of Zee Africa & Asia Pacific, at Thursday evening's media launch event of Mehek in Johannesburg.

"Zee World was launched with 4 fresh hours per day, Monday to Friday. Then, within a year, we introduced our 5th fresh hour and it became 5 new hours per day during prime time during 2016."

"Then, last year we started with new content from Monday to Sunday on Zee World. We are one of those very few companies who did this where we brought fresh hours on Saturday and Sunday. So we did something that was different, and this delivered the performance" for the channel that is now available as an HD channel across sub-Saharan Africa.

"Zee came to the African continent and South Africa 20 years back. When we came 20 years ago we thought Bollywood and Indian drama will appeal to South African Indians, so we brought on channel 452 the channel ZEE TV on MultiChoice's DStv," said Harish Goyal.

"Programming was in Hindi with English subtitles and we remained happy and content for 13 years. Then we discovered that the content has a very big appeal under African viewers - African mainstream viewers who watch it."

"So we were chasing 1.5 million South Asians where actually the market was 1 billion Africans. What we discovered was that the content has to be brought in a language that Africa understands. The research that we did 7 years ago showed that there's a great cultural relevance between India and Africa - our joint love of food, music, dance, and family values."

"People thought there must be a big cultural difference between India and Africa and the answer is no; there is a very big cultural relevance. Finally, when we launched Zee World, the results show that the entire Soweto watches us,' said Harish Goyal.

"We started asking in 2016, 'When are we going to start seeing ourselves on the channel?' That is when the idea started of bringing local content to Zee World. Of course it takes time. Finally, we're starting to see African stars with Indian stars, working in India."

'We have brought Africa and India together'
Ratna Siriah, head of business at Zee Africa, at Thursday evening's launch event said "a big thank you to my marketing and programming team in Africa and the producers in Indian who made Mehek happen in a very, very short time".

"The African actors know how difficult it has been for them as well - and everyone pulled through."

"The journey of Mehek - as Harish Goyal spoke about the journey of Zee World - finally it had to come to that. Mehek is here because of the success of Zee World in Africa that we have seen," said Ratna Siriah.

"The key question we started getting from viewers was 'When will they see themselves as part of Bollywood?' I think with Mehek that is what we have finally achieved where we have brought Africa and India together on one screen."

"This has happened for the first time in the history of Bollywood series. This hasn't been done before. This is the first innovative step; something that Zee has taken."

The story of Mehek
"The story of Mehek revolves around an orphan girl called Mehek. Mehek in Hindi means 'fragrance' and you associate that word with food; the fragrance of food, the fragrance of flowers - everything that is nice and beautiful is called mehek," explained Ratna Siriah.

"So you could have a person who has a beautiful personality and I would say 'The mehek of that person is beautiful'. So it's a fragrance that comes from everything that is beautiful."

"So Mehek's whole story revolves around cooking. The story has love, it has betrayal. It has revenge, it has forgiveness. And now to add into the mix of all that we have the Gabela family from Africa that's arrived in India and they are trying to find their place in a country where the culture at the outset looks very different."

"Slowly they come to know, as we've learnt here in South Africa and Africa, that it's not all that different - that we all can live together.

"In Mehek the family's daughter Norah (Shonisani Masutha) is not at all happy when the family moved to India at all and you will see her throw all sorts of tantrums. But of course, she finds a very hot someone ..."

"The family finally makes India their home and you will see all of that in Mehek that has over 200 episodes with a new episode daily. There's a lot of drama coming in Mehek."

"The story of Mehek puts a spotlight on the connection between Africa and India," says Ratna Siriah.

"Our dances may be different, but our passion for dancing is the same. Our families may be different, but our respect for our elders is the same. Our fashions may be different, but our flair for colours is the same. Finally, our food may be different, but our love of food is the same - and that is what Mehek bring together on Zee World as our latest series."


ALSO READ: The first Bollywood TV production with African actors in the cast and filmed in India, Mehek, to premiere on Zee World in April.
ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 30 photos of the media launch of Zee World's Mehek drama series in South Africa as the first to feature the inclusion of an African cast.
ALSO READ: ZEEL's Zee World channel celebrates 4 years in Africa with phenomenal viewership growth for its Bollywood content; first locally-produced content to be broadcast from April 2019.

The first Bollywood TV production with African actors in the cast and filmed in India, Mehek, to premiere on Zee World in April.

Mehek, a new drama series filmed in India, is set to premiere on the Indian-focused entertainment channel Zee World (DStv 166) on Saturday, 6 April at 21:00 as the first Bollywood TV production to include African actors as part of the cast.

The landmark drama series for Zee World includes African actors Shonisani Masutha, Kamogelo Mogale, Ndaba ka Ngwane and Nomava Kibare and will broadcast 7 days a week on Zee World.

In February Zee World celebrated its 4th anniversary as an African TV channel run by ZEE Entertainment Enterprise Ltd. (ZEEL), with the channel that has shown a steep upward growth in ratings and revenues over the past 4 years.

Mehek revolves around an aspiring chef looking for love, as well as the various members of a black family from Africa looking for a better life in India, faces the various challenges and tribulations this new journey brings as well as unexpected romantic entanglements.

Mehek is the story of a young girl from Delhi, whose love for cooking is closely tied to her mother's memories. She was raised by her aunt, Kanta, after her parents died. Then there is Shaurya (Karan Vohra) a rich and arrogant restauranteur. Their paths cross, leading to an unlikely relationship - but all is not what it seems.

Meanwhile Eddie Gabela (Ndaba ka Ngwane), a successful businessman from Africa moves to Delhi with his wife Leleti (Nomava Kibare), daughter Norah (Shonisani Masutha) and son Dennis (Kamogelo Mogale).

Dennis has been implicated in a serious crime and whilst the family knows he's innocent they are helpless to save him from these false accusations and decide to leave Africa for his safety.

Norah's love life, however, takes an interesting turn when she meets and falls in love with Karan in India. Their relationship is a colourful imbalance of love and betrayal as the couple forges a life together in India in a groundbreaking Africa-meets-India storyline.

"Mehek represents an important and evolutionary part of Zee World's commitment to providing relevant, exciting and innovative content to its viewers," says Harish Goyal, the CEO of Zee Africa & Asia Pacific.

"Zee is proud of this production and of our African actors; furthermore, it will undoubtedly set a strong foundation for similar productions in the future."

Ratna Siriah, head of business at Zee Africa, says "The decision to develop a Bollywood production with African actors stemmed from Zee World's unequivocal success in Africa and the love showered by our audiences for the channel".

"Zee World has enjoyed tremendous growth throughout the years and Mehek was the obvious next step."

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's executive head of content strategy, says "The MultiChoice Group understands the importance of local content to our subscribers".

"As Africa's leading content producer and most loved storyteller, we are delighted that our channel partners such as Zee share this in this vision and investing in showcasing local talent in new innovative ways."

ZEEL's Zee World channel celebrates 4 years in Africa with phenomenal viewership growth for its Bollywood content, first locally-produced content to be broadcast from April 2019.

The Indian-focused channel Zee World (DStv 166) is celebrating its four-year anniversary this month celebrating phenomenal viewership growth, with the first locally-produced content set for broadcast from April 2019.

Zee World's 4th anniversary is an important milestone according to ZEE Entertainment Enterprise Ltd. (ZEEL) with Zee World that has seen tremendous growth for its African viewership.

Zee World achieved its highest rating ever in South Africa and Africa in September 2018 which grew more than 200% since the channel's launch in February 2015 as African viewers tune in to the dedicated Bollywood content broadcast across the continent.

The journey of Zee World from 2015 to 2019 has shown a steep upward growth in ratings and revenues alike, says ZEEL.

Zee World launched with 4 fresh hours, Mondays to Fridays in 2015 and then added an additional 5th hour in 2016, along with showing 5 series 7 days a week since 2018.

The latest innovation for Zee World is its first locally produced content that will be broadcast from April 2019 on the channel.

Zee World now available in high definition (HD) to MultiChoice's DStv subscribers in Southern Africa.

The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa's (BRCSA) recent results of its brands and services survey (January to June 2018) listed Zee World amongst the "channels that are rapidly gaining traction in South Africa".

According to ZEEL, Zee World continues to remain among the top 3 channels in South Africa and the number one most watched channel in key markets in West & East Africa including Nigeria and other Southern African Development Community countries in Africa.

"Zee World is undoubtedly a success story; our continuous growth shows that we have captured a very important and loyal viewership," says Harish Goyal, CEO Africa & Asia Pacific.

"We will build on this by consistently providing innovative and engaging programming to our viewers."

Zee Entertainment's general entertainment channel Zee World switches to HD on MultiChoice's DStv.

Zee Entertainment's general entertainment channel Zee World (DStv 166) is switching to a high definition (HD) broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform from Thursday, 15 November.

"We're extremely excited to bring our most popular shows in high definition to our viewers," says Harish Goyal, CEO of Asia Pacific and Africa at Zee International.

"The crisp viewing will undoubtedly add a level of enjoyment to the shows." 

Zee says its switch to HD reconfirms Zee World's growing popularity in the Southern African marketplace.

The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa's recent results of its brands and services survey (January to June 2018) listed Zee World amongst the "channels that are rapidly gaining traction".

Zee World programming include the drama series, Twist of Fate chronicling the life of Abhi whose accident has turned his life around, causing him and Pragya to be pulled apart. However, despite trials and tribulations standing in the way of their joy they stand firm in their pursuit of happiness.

Gangaa tells the story of a young girl, married off as a child bride. She suddenly becomes a widow and orphan when both her husband and father die on her wedding day. Sent to a home for widows, she finds herself fighting injustice as she is forced to life a mundane life with no future.

Young Dreams celebrates adolescence, depicting the lives of two teenage girls, Gunjan and Rachna.

ZEE Media celebrates 25 years by changing circular logo to 'ZEE Amethyst' purple; adds 'Extraordinary Together' slogan.

At the end of October, ZEE Entertainment Enterprise Ltd. (ZEEL) changed the logo of Zee TV and also rolled out a new slogan of "Extraordinary Together".

The Zee logo change also affects South Africa and Africa where several TV channels from ZEE is carried on multiple pay-TV platforms across the continent, managed by Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee TV Africa.

The logo and slogan change has been timed for the 25 anniversary of ZEEL.

ZEE's new design has been done by designer Martin Lambie-Nairn, creative director at ML-N.

ZEE says the new slogan "Extraordinary Together", represents the company's mission of celebrating the world and unifying it with entertainment.

The circular form of the new brand logo symbolises continuity and inclusiveness with the colour called "ZEE Amethyst", representing creativity and transformation.

In terms of the design the colourful explosion of creative energy makes ZEE the "fountainhead" that unleases "extraordinary potential".

"Zee's aim is to continue to provide extraordinary entertainment content across genres, languages and geograhies; delighting consumers across screens, platforms and devices," says Harish Goyal.

NOLLY LOVES BOLLY. Nigeria's obsession with Bollywood and the Zee World channel on DStv sparks a film series, Zee World Madness.

Nigerian viewers are so enthralled by Bollywood and specifically the Zee World channel on DStv that a Nigerian filmmaker produced a 6-episode film series, Zee World Madness, hilariously chronicling Nigerians' new Bollywood and Zee World obsession.

Zee World recently marked its second anniversary in February since it was launched on 3 February 2015 on channel 166 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and the rest of Africa and added to GOtv.

Recently Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) added further channels, Zee Bollymovies and Zee Bollynova, for African viewers with English-dubbed Bollywood content including films and series.

Zee World Madness, produced by Diamond Movies International Ltd and directed by Mac Collins Chidebe, shows how Nigerians are obsessed with the colours, fashions and drama that Zee World bring to viewers - with tragic, but also humorous and funny effect, even including some Bolly-Africa dance numbers.

Although not authorised by ZEEL, Zee is basking in the glow of the fan appreciation, and has only good things to say about the Bolly-crazy Zee World Madness that has 6 "episodes" of about 50 minutes each that is now available on YouTube.

Zee says that since the launch of a bespoke feed, Zee has become the number one destination for Bollywood on the African continent.

According to ZEEL, the launch of the made-for-Africa feed has seen Zee World become very successful in South Africa and Nigeria.

"We are excited to see that Zee World has been rocking Nigerian audiences and how the channel is influencing their day to day lives," says Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee TV Africa.

"The fascination and love with Zee World and the Bollywood culture itself only serves to re-emphasise that at the heart of it all, we are all the same. Culture, colour and the triumps and lows of our relationships are a unifying force that certainly bring us all together."

Here's a trailer of Zee World Madness:

Ahead of its first year anniversary, Zee TV splits its Indian channel, Zee World, into two separate channel feeds for South Africa and for the rest of Africa.

The Indian channel operator Zee World (DStv 166) yesterday on 11 January marked its first anniversary on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and the GO digital terrestrial television platform by splitting Zee World into different feeds - one for South Africa and one for the rest of Africa.

Zee World, from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) was launched on 3 February 2015 and is now available in South Africa and 43 other African countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Zee TV has now split Zee World on DStv to offer two separate channel feeds of the same channel.

With different programming and more importantly broadcasting to different regions - Southern Africa and the rest of Africa - it enables Zee TV to sell more specialised advertising and sponsorships to advertisers and ad buyers that's geared to these different regions.

The programming schedule for Zee World can also be tailored better with different prime time schedules, given the different African time zones that exist.

The Zee World South Africa channel feed is now received by DStv subscribers in South Africa and DStv and GO subscribers in the rest of the Southern African countries.

The Zee World Rest of Africa channel feed is now received by DStv and GO subscribers across East, West and Central Africa.

"It is imperative for Zee TV South Africa to make this change to better meet the needs of our viewers," says Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee TV South Africa.

"We are aware that all of Africa cannot be painted with the same brush. We promise to continue to deliver exceptional content, great quality and unforgettable entertainment".

Zee World on DStv to add health shows, other world series to the line-up soon; channel for French audiences in Africa to launch before end of the year.

Zee World (DStv 166) which launched at the beginning of this year on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform says the channel will add health shows and other world series to the line-up soon with a customised channel for French viewers which will be launched in French speaking Africa before the end of the year.

Zee World has shows like Saloni, Laali, The Promise and Destiny, as well as a collection of Bollywood movies. ZEE TV says the channel also has other genres like food and reality and will be adding health shows and other world series soon.

"Zee World is the first offering from ZEE for mainstream viewers in Africa," says Harish Goyal, CEO of ZEE TV Africas.

"We will be launching another channel for our French audiences in Francophone Africa before the end of this year with more channels scheduled for launch next year," says Harish Goyal in a statement.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) first ventured into Africa 18 years ago as the brand's first international territory and ZEE TV has been present on DStv since 1996.

ZEE TV says all the content on Zee World has undergone extensive research and customisation, including editing and dubbing.

"The content research is a continuous process for all upcoming shows in future on Zee World".

BREAKING. MultiChoice adds new channel, Zee World, to DStv on channel 166 from 3 February.

You're reading it here first.

MultiChoice is adding the new customised Asian TV channel Zee World to DStv from 3 February on channel 166.

Zee World, from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) carries Bollywood movies, series, reality and food shows.

Zee World will launch on 3 February on DStv with shows like Saloni, Laali, Maried Again, The Promise and several Bollywood movies.

Zee World will then later add other TV dramas, kids, food, reality and health shows before the end of the year.

Zee World is the first new TV channel added for South African viewers in 2015 the coming addition of which TV with Thinus reported on in December 2015.

MultiChoice has carried sister channel Zee TV since 1996 on DStv.

Zee World's content is not originally in English but is getting dubbed, similar to the telenovelas on Universal Networks International's (UNI) Telemundo, into English. Most of this dubbing work for Zee World's content will be done locally in South Africa.

Zee World will be available on channel 166 to DStv Premium, DStv Extra, DStv Compact and DStv Family subscribers in South Africa, as well as to DStv Access subscribers in the rest of Africa.

"Zee World is the first offering from ZEEL for mainstream viewers in Africa; there are many other channels planned for the near future," says Harish Goyal, the CEO for ZEEL's Africa region.

"Content from around the world is increasingly becoming more accessible for African audiences," says Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content.

"Critically acclaimed Bollywood content and its stars such as Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwariya Rai is mainstream. In light of this, Zee World was specifically developed for African family audiences," says Aletta Alberts.

"Extensive research has been conducted on every aspect of the channel - from the look and feel to the content mix as well as the English dubbing. Zee World will be a compelling addition to the DStv family".