MAM
Zee TV strengthens weekends, Fear Files clocks 4 TVR
MUMBAI: Zee TV has held on to the second position in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) hierarchy, adding 15 GRPs after strengthening its weekend programming.
As per TAM data (C&S, 4+, HSM) provided by the Hindi GECs, Zee TV recorded 253 GRPs. The new paranormal show of the channel, Fear Files, has garnered 4 TVR while DID lil Masters has improved in ratings. The Saturday (14 July) episode of DID registered 5.2 TVR while the Sunday (8 July) episode got 4 TVR. Interestingly, Zee TV is at No.1 in the weekend primetime programming and is at par with Star Plus in weekday primetime programming.
Star Plus, even after a loss of 22 GRPs, continued to lead the genre with 276 GRPs. In the previous week, Star Plus had aired IIFA Awards that had helped the channel add 33 GRPs. However, leading fiction properties of the channel have seen a rise in viewership.
Colors, meanwhile, maintained its status quo on the GEC ladder. The Viacom18 channel added five GRPs to its last week’s tally to register 235 GRPs. The channel’s three fiction properties – Uttaran (3.2 TVR), Balika Vadhu (4.3 TVR) and Sasural Simar Ka (2.9 TVR) – continue to rule their respective slots.
Sony Entertainment Television (Set) also added 15 GRPs to end the week with 222 GRPs. Its fiction show Bade Achhe Lagte Hain has become the slot leader with 3.7 TVR (last week 2.6). The addition of eyeballs can be attributed to the five-year leap the show has undergone.
Sab with 123 GRPs (last week 125) is at No. 5 while Life OK continues to occupy the sixth position with 114 GRPs (last week 103).
Sahara One with 39 GRPs (last week 31) remains at the bottom of the ladder.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
