Zee Entertainment Builds Footprint in Africa

MUMBAI/JOHANNESBURG: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has struck a carriage deal with Africa’s new pay-TV network Kwesé TV regarding the launch of Zee Bollymovies and Zee Bollynova.

Zee Bollymovies will bring African viewers a mix of Bollywood movies and series. Zee Bollynova, meanwhile, offers a variety of general-entertainment programming, showcasing telenovelas and food shows. Both channels will be available to viewers through Kwesé’s multiplatform offering, including linear TV, mobile app and web streaming services.

Zee TV Africa had launched Zee World in February 2015, followed by Zee Magic in October 2015. Both are fully dubbed English and French channels, respectively.

Amit Goenka, the CEO of the international broadcast business at ZEEL, said, “With great similarities between the two cultures, Africa has always shown a tremendous appreciation for rich, vibrant Bollywood content. Our two previously-launched, specially customized channels, Zee World and Zee Magic, have been warmly received by viewers, resulting in a threefold increase in our viewership since our entry into the continent in 2015. This love and appreciation for our content has encouraged us to introduce two new channels, Zee Bollymovies and Zee Bollynova, which will keep up with the ZEE trend of color, music, dance, drama and excitement.”

Harish Goyal, the CEO of Zee TV Africa, said, “ZEE is continuously striving to make further in-roads into the African continent. We have packaged our latest offerings, Zee Bollymovies and Zee Bollynova with content adapted to suit the African viewer. Both channels are customized and dubbed in English.

“Zee Bollymovies will be a one-of-its-kind channel on the African continent, being a 24-hour dedicated Bollywood movie channel exclusively in English. On the other hand, Zee Bollynova will offer viewers innovative and engaging general entertainment programming. This is an extremely exciting launch for us and for viewers on the continent, and we look forward to being hosted on the Kwesé platform.”

Joseph Hundah, the president and group CEO of Kwesé TV parent company Econet Media, said, “As a new African broadcaster we want to ensure that our viewers have access to a diverse content offering that cuts across all programming genres. There is a strong appetite for premium Bollywood content on the continent, thus we are proud to offer these impressive channels on the lineup as they provide engaging TV for the whole family to enjoy.”