News Broadcasting
Zee to launch one more GEC?
MUMBAI: Indiantelevision.com has learnt that there is more in the offering from the Zee Network. Zee, which is known for its pioneering initiatives in the broadcasting space, soon plans to add one more general entertainment channel (GEC) to its kitty.
According to highly placed sources in the industry, the network is preparing to launch the channel under the ‘&’ franchise. “The network is planning to launch yet another GEC which will have all original shows. In the coming six to eight months, viewers will have a clear picture,” reveals the source.
The network launched their first interactive movie channel titled, ‘&pictures’ on 18 August. And within a few weeks, on 1 September, the network launched another channel – a GEC christened ‘Zee Anmol’ that airs re-runs of the best of Zee TV shows like Dance India Dance, Pavitra Rishta, Kasam Se among others.
At the recently held Mipcom event at Cannes, the network announced that it has acquired 20 programs from Geo TV, a Pakistan based television channel.
And if the source is to be believed, all the shows may be aired on this soon to be launched new GEC. “Right now, they are masking it all by saying it is for Zee Anmol but eventually it will be aired on the ‘&’ franchise sister GEC,” remarks the source.
When we contacted the channel officials, they refused to comment. But with the recent developments, it seems something interesting is brewing up at the network.
Keep watching this space for more!
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
