MultiChoice to add ZEEL's Indian TV news channel WION to DStv in October.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice will add the Indian TV news channel WION from October to its DStv satellite pay-TV service for South African subscribers, and likely also subscribers elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

ZEE Entertainment Enterprise Ltd. (ZEEL), that is merging with Sony Pictures Network India, announced in a video that WION will be added to MultiChoice's DStv in October, although a specific date isn't given.

ZEEL already runs channels on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa and across Africa, as well as on other pay-TV operators like Zee TV, Zee World, Zee Magic, Zee Cinema and Zee Alem.

WION is an Indian multinational English language TV news channel that is headquartered in New Delhi and that started broadcasting in August 2016, and is part of the Essel Group's Zee Media network of TV channels.

WION that stands for "World Is One News" says that it is focused on "bringing the latest and breaking news from South Asia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the rest of the world".

WION says that "We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim to empower people to explore their world. With our Global headquarters in New Delhi, we bring you news on the hour, by the hour."

WION states that it "delivers information that is not biased. We are journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan when it comes to the politics of the world. People are tired of biased reportage and we stand for a globalised united world. So for us the world is truly one."

WION's addition to MultiChoice's DStv isn't the first time that WION will be available and seen in Africa. 

WION was added to the now-shuttered and disastrous Kwese TV of Econet Media in mid-2017 when Econet Media Joseph Hundah had a party in Johannesburg with ZEE TV Africa and the African ZEE team for the launch of the Indian TV news channel on its pay-TV service.

With every channel number slot from 400 on DStv's channel number grid filled by TV news channels like BBC World News, CNN International, Sky News and local TV news channels like eNCA, SABC News and Newzroom Africa, WION will probably be placed on DStv channel number 415 which is the first open slot.

Otherwise WION might be placed on DStv channel number 418 in order to not be pushed in-between euronews at DStv channel 414 and its sister channel africanews on DStv channel 417.

MultiChoice hasn't made any announcement about the addition of WION to DStv in any statement yet by the time of publication of this report.

Linda Oliphant, Zee Africa marketing manager told TVwithThinus on Thursday in response to a media query asking for more information about WION and on what date it will be launching, that Zee Africa is awaiting the confirmation date for the WION channel's launch on DStv.

WION's rolling TV news coverage is divided into various daypart slots, and it also does branded shows like Gravitas as its primetime programming block, and with Speed News, The Diplomacy Show, WION World Order, WION Fineprint, WION Tech Out, WION Edge and others.

While every TV news channel on DStv is directly competing with each other for every DStv subscriber as a viewer, WION is joining the DStv news line-up where India's NDTV (DStv 413) already exists for a number of years.

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.

ZEEL appoints Sunita Uchil to head up its new co-productions and co-development division.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) has promoted Sunita Uchil to executive vice president of its new international co-production and co-development division at ZEE.

ZEE is looking at doing more international co-productions, for instance Mehek that recently started on Zee World (DStv 166) in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa, with Zee Africa that smartly utilised the back-end infrastructure of an existing Bollywood show before it shuttered to recreate and create a customised version for African audiences by inserting an African cast.

Sunita Uchil in her new role based in Mumbai, India, will work with production companies around the world to co-create and produce both scripted and non-scripted programming.

Sunita Uchil was previously Zee’s chief business officer for international ad sales and global syndication and led Zee's international syndication division since its inception in 2012.

Here she spearheaded several co-production series, including the company’s first global blue-chip documentary, The Life of Earth from Space, on which she served as an executive producer.

Sunita Uchil developing both scripted and factual co-productions including the recent African drama series Deceptive Measures, an adaptation of popular Indian drama series Pavitra Rishta and Oba Nisa, an adaptation of the popular Zee TV series Tujhse Hai Rabbta (Cosmic Connection) which launched in Sri Lanka.

Sunita Uchil says "Stories are my passion and I am grateful to our CEO and ZEE for giving me the space to bring new global stories to light".

"True to our motto - that together we are extraordinary - I aim to seek out and partner with the best producers in the world to create compelling content which will be enjoyed by audiences worldwide."

Amit Goenka, CEO of international broadcast business at ZEEL, says "Sunita is a special creative and business executive, with strong content and commercial visions, along with the fortitude and ability to implement them".

"She has not only built up our international ad sales and syndication businesses, she has been instrumental in finding the right projects for successful co-production projects. We are excited to see what she does in this new role and expect she will bring all her experience and creative acumen to the role."

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 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:

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".