News Broadcasting
Thursday Premieres see ad spurt on Zee
MUMBAI: If the proof of the pudding is in the eating, Zee Telefilms Ltd’s (ZTL) strategy to introduce a Hindi film at Thursday prime time slot seems to be paying dividends. Not only are its movies now a regular feature on the ratings charts, it has had a positive impact on its ad inventory position and has also boosted the stock price at the bourses.
A channel ad spot analysis done by Perfect Monitoring indicates a significant increase in the commercial activity from September 2002 to October 2002. There was an almost 60 per cent increase in commercial activity the analysis has revealed.
Some premier brands which were inactive during September 2002 on Zee came on board in October. Brands that became active during October in a big way were Whirlpool Fast Forward Ice refrigerator, Colgate Herbal toothpaste, Kinetic Boss motorcycle, Sundrop Nutrilite sunflower oil, Pantene Volume & Fulness shampoo, Cadbury’s Dairymilk Chunky and Sansui color television.
Media buyers that indiantelevision.com spoke to say Zee TV is getting an average effective ad rate of between Rs 75,000 to RS 80,000 per 10 second spot when its movies are being telecast. Industry sources indicate that ad secondage during the Thursday Premiere is just over 3,000 seconds therefore it is reasonable to assume that Zee would be raking in around RS 24 million in advertising per movie.
There has been some positive news on the stock exchanges as well for Zee. The ZTL stock has attracted some fund buying pushing the stock up from Rs 85.90 on 1 November to the current levels of Rs 87, Hindu Businessline has reported. Obviously, in the long term Zee will have to show a ratings rise for its other shows as well in addition to being able to sustain the weekly airing of new films.
News Broadcasting
TV9 to host What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 in Delhi
PM Narendra Modi to keynote two day forum on India and the world
NEW DELHI: TV9 Network is gearing up to host the fourth edition of its flagship What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 on March 23 and 24 in the national capital, bringing together a wide spectrum of voices to debate India’s place in a shifting global order.
The summit will open with a keynote address by Narendra Modi, setting the tone for this year’s theme, “India and the world”, as the country positions itself at the crossroads of economic growth, geopolitical shifts and technological change.
From cabinet ministers to chief ministers, business leaders to cultural figures, the event promises a crowded stage and a lively exchange of ideas. Union ministers such as Piyush Goyal and Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to attend, alongside state leaders including Mohan Yadav, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Bhajan Lal Sharma, Nayab Singh Saini and Bhagwant Mann.
Political voices from across the aisle, including Smriti Irani, Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi, will also join the conversation, ensuring that the debates are as diverse as they are dynamic.
Adding a cultural and sporting touch, personalities such as yoga guru Swami Ramdev, poet Kumar Vishwas and cricketing names like Sourav Ganguly, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh are set to share the stage. Global business leaders and diplomats will further widen the lens, reflecting the summit’s international outlook.
Speaking ahead of the event, TV9 Network managing director and chief executive officer Barun Das, said India stands at a unique moment in history, combining demographic strength, technological capability and entrepreneurial energy. He noted that in uncertain times, honest conversations and bold ideas will shape the country’s trajectory.
The summit will explore themes ranging from economic growth and governance to innovation, sustainability and culture, positioning itself as a platform for dialogue at a time when the world is in flux.
With a packed agenda and a high-profile guest list, What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 aims to do more than just talk. It seeks to capture a moment where India is not only part of the global conversation, but increasingly helping lead it.
