GECs
Asian Television Technical & Creative Awards 2002 opens for entries
Entries are invited for the Asian Television Technical & Creative Awards 2002, Asia’s only region-wide awards programme that recognises the efforts and talent of the broadcast, production, and post-production community.
Launched last year, the technical and creative awards programme is an off-shoot of the Asian Television Awards, the continent’s prestigious awards for programming and performance. The Asian Television Technical & Creative Awards this year will have 18 categories, four of which are new additions.
These are: Best Original Music Score (Short Form), Best Original Music Score (Long Form), Best TVC by an international company produced for Asia, and Best Broadcast Design by an international company produced for Asia. The addition of the last two categories is a response to the feedback from companies outside Asia who are active in co-producing with Asia-based partners or taking on work in the region and would like to see their efforts in Asia recognised as well.
The Asian Television Technical & Creative Awards 2002 are sponsored by Kodak and the Singapore Broadcasting Authority, with media support from Asia Image. Full details and entry forms can be downloaded from www.asiantvawards.com or www.ai-interactive.com or by e-mailing awards@tvasia.com.sg
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.
