Factual
Zee Café unveils ‘Just Talk Sneakers’ show
Mumbai: Just Talk Sneakers, a new feature show on Zee Café, will explore sneaker culture and its rising influence in India. The series will include engaging conversations with celebrities, highlighting subcultures, personalities, and trivia related to sneakers. Each episode will provide an immersive experience as celebrity guests share personal stories and insights from the “sneakerverse.” Hosted by sneaker enthusiast and talk show host Mihir Joshi, the show premieres on 6 October (Sunday) at 8:30 pm, with new episodes airing every Sunday.
The series features a lineup of celebrities, including Tanuj Virwani, Manav Chabbra, Unnati Malharkar, Akash Dodeja, Simran Dhanwani, Malini Agarwal, Sangeet Paryani, and Nisha Lulla. The show will provide a platform for viewers to learn sneaker lingo, facts, and explore the growing sneaker market in India.
Chief cluster officer – East, North & premium cluster, Samrat Ghosh expressed his excitement about the launch, “At Zee Café, we prioritize understanding our youth-driven audience by identifying key subcultures and creating tailored content that truly resonates with them. By tracking evolving interests and cultural shifts, we deliver engaging experiences that captivate our viewers. This approach has positioned us as pioneers in introducing innovative concepts that connect with niche communities ahead of the competition.”
Chief channel officer – English and zest, Rishi Parekh said on the launch, “As part of our English cluster, we’ve identified and tapped into emerging subcultures within our target audience. Our Anime Fan Fest attracted over 20,000 attendees across two cities, showcasing the immense interest in this genre. Building on this momentum, we’re thrilled to introduce Just Talk Sneakers with Mihir Joshi. The aim is to further expand Zee Café’s footprint in vibrant, youth-driven communities.”
Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ chief growth officer – digital & broadcast revenue, Ashish Sehgal expressed his excitement on the launch, “Shows like Just Talk Sneakers provide a unique platform to engage with today’s youth by tapping into their passions and interests. Zee continues to focus on bringing content for every type of audience by identifying key subcultures and this show has been curated to resonate with the youth and create targeted and impactful experiences for them. We believe such refreshing content is a perfect fit for brands and sponsors where they can create stronger connections with this demographic and boost their visibility by integrating their messaging in an authentic way.”
Zee – national sales head – brand works sales, youth cluster & influencer marketing – Sonal Shah: “This collaboration with Hell Energy and Ather is a perfect match for Just Talk Sneakers. Both brands exude energy, spontaneity, and a sense of movement, making them ideal partners for a show that celebrates youth culture and staying on the go. We’re confident this partnership will create long-lasting connections and elevate the experience for the youth community.”
Just Talk Sneakers will have eight episodes with new episodes airing every Sunday. The show will also be available on Zee Café’s YouTube channel.
DUBLIN: Ireland is betting big on reality television. In a move that has Hollywood scouts scrambling for their passports, Dublin has unveiled Europe’s first tax credit dedicated solely to unscripted programming—think The Traitors rather than Game of Thrones.
The scheme offers producers a juicy 20 per cent rebate on qualifying expenditure, capped at €15 million ($17.5 million) per project. It’s a cultural credit with strings attached: programmes must pass a test proving they genuinely promote Irish and European culture. No word yet on whether Love Island derivatives need apply.
Ireland tánaiste and minister for finance Simon Harris says the incentive will cement Ireland’s reputation as a “centre of excellence” for audiovisual production. His colleague, minister for culture, communications and sport Patrick O’Donovan, insists Ireland has “the talent, creativity and production expertise to lead” in unscripted television. Bold claims for a nation that has spent decades exporting scripted drama.
The timing is canny. Unscripted production costs have soared globally, making Ireland’s existing infrastructure—and now its tax breaks—increasingly attractive. Fox Entertainment Studios already churns out shows like Beat Shazam and The Floor from Irish studios. Whether these American productions will pass the cultural test remains to be seen.
Producers must secure an interim cultural certificate before filming begins, allowing them to claim credits during production rather than waiting until wrap. A final certificate follows completion. The European Commission has blessed the scheme through December 2028.
Minimum thresholds apply: productions must cost at least €250,000, with eligible expenditure above €125,000. Only one season per project can claim relief in any 12-month period, though producers can juggle multiple projects.
Britain, take note. The UK industry has clamoured for similar support for 18 months, but Westminster has dithered. India’s ministry of information and broadcasting pay heed. Its incentive scheme for co-productions excludes unscripted television. To what end, no one knows! Ireland, meanwhile, is already rolling out the red carpet—or should that be green?
The message from Dublin is clear: when it comes to backing reality TV, Ireland isn’t messing about. Lights, camera, tax action.
