GECs
BIG RTL Thrill beefs up weekend programming
MUMBAI: BIG RTL Thrill with its new additions is all set to turn up the entertainment quotient for men through the weekends. The channel which is available in dual feeds of Hindi and English will premier two internationally recognised shows – Bellator and Love in the Wild starting 5 October.
The new line up will kick-start with Bellator, the largest tournament based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the world. The world renowned series that was launched in 2008 has showcased nine successful seasons internationally and holds tournaments across weight classes. With Bellator, BIG RTL Thrill aims to give its audiences an hour of exclusive and exceptional action entertainment.
Next on the anvil is Love in the Wild. The show is a reality based programme wherein ten young and single girls and boys are marooned on an island in Costa Rica. The boys and girls are paired as couples and participate in various adventurous activities while they seek love. In order to find true love, the contestants have to undergo hardships and challenges that will test their compatibility, chemistry and mental grit.
BIG RTL Thrill vice president Vijay Koshy said, “We are delighted to bring these two new fantastic shows to our audiences over weekends. While Bellator is an internationally well established property amongst mixed martial art fans, Love in the Wild promises to provide for scintillating content in the late night slot. We are confident that this mix of action-entertainment shows will work well with audiences, while offering marketers with properties that promise best ROI.”
The new shows on the channel aim to tap into the expanded market for BIG RTL Thrill following its dual-feed launch earlier this year. The channel, which is available on all leading networks, offers male viewers international action-programming in both Hindi and English across key 1mn+ HSMs.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
