ZEE Africa launches Zee Dunia channel in Kenya in Swahili and English

by Thinus Ferreira

ZEE Africa has launched the ZEE Dunia channel in Kenya, offering dubbed Indian shows in Swahili and English.

ZEE Dunia launched on 10 March and will offer Kenyan viewers a mix of dramas, movies, local programmes and international news.

According to ZEE Africa, the programming for ZEE Dunia will be "thoughtfully curated to reflect the vibrancy, aspirations and values of Kenyan audiences".

ZEE Dunia joins the collection of Zee Africa channels like ZEE World, ZEE Zonke, ZEE Alem, ZEE Zonke, ZEE One, ZEE TV, ZEE Family and ZEE Bollymovies in English, isiZulu, Hindi, French, Swahili, Hausa, Amharic and Oromiffo languages carried across 52 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. 

Zee Dunia is available in both Swahili and English.

Content at launch on ZEE Dunia includes Marriage of 3, Number 1 Daughter-in-Law, Forever Friends, Dark Secrets, and My Life My Beat.

Zee Africa updates Zee World on-air graphics and tagline, moves primetime start time to 5pm.

by Thinus Ferreira

Zee Africa has changed the tagline for Zee World (DStv 166) to "Living every moment" from July and expanded the channel's programming schedule with prime time now starting at 17:00 with 8 shows until 22:00.

Zee Africa says the channel refresh of Zee World for viewers across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean islands that includes new graphics and an enhanced programming offering, "honours Zee World's legacy".

"It is important for us to remind our viewers who we are at the core while extending it out to all age groups and cultures across Africa" says Somnath Malakar, CEO of Zee Africa.

"The tagline 'Living Every Moment' represents what Zee has always stood for and continues to be the inspiration that the brand endeavours to deliver to its audiences."

Zee World's programming has expanded with prime time now starting at 17:00. New titles have been added at 19:30 and 20:30. From July, Zee World now broadcasts eight shows between 17:00 and 22:00.

Desiree Pillay, senior vice president for content and marketing at Zee Africa, says "Our channel refresh represents our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment that resonates with viewers across the continent, and we are doing it with flair".

"With a brand-new logo, a new tagline, and a whole lot of new shows, we invite our viewers to join us in 'Living Every Moment' on Zee World as we embark on this exhilarating new chapter together."

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.