GECs
Big Magic amplifies reach across HSMs with DD Direct+
MUMBAI: Big Magic, the flagship general entertainment channel (GEC) from the Reliance Broadcast Network stable is on an aggressive spree to intensify distribution and reach across the Hindi speaking markets. Coming close on the heels of its distribution alliance with one of the leading DTH players, Videocon d2h, the Channel announced the inking of a carriage deal with yet another player DD Direct+. Big Magic will be available on channel number 28 on the platform.
DD Direct+ is India’s only free direct-to-home service and reaches all parts of India, even where cable is not available, making it the answer to the entertainment requirements of the masses. The GEC offers an eclectic mix of entertainment which appeals to the sensibilities of audiences and ranges from family dramas, to reality shows, to cookery shows, to game shows to weekend movies, and more, and is designed to cater to audiences with a progressive mind set.
Speaking on the occasion, Big Magic business head Sunil Kumaran said, “Big Magic is very happy to add DD Direct+ to it distribution bouquet. DD Direct+ penetrates into the deeper pockets where even cable TV finds it difficult to reach, adding substantially to our overall channel reach. Our mix of shows, appeal to a wide cross section of audiences and the addition of DD Direct+ allows us to take this content to newer audiences, otherwise difficult to reach.”
Big Magic is already available across key DTH players ranging Airtel, Videocon d2h, Dish TV, Reliance Digital TV along with Hathway, Incable, Digicable, DEN, 7 Star, ABS, Siticable, Star Broadband and GTPL amongst others.
GECs
Zee scales syndication with global tie-ups, 350 plus channel MCN
Vertical, dubbed and audio formats boost digital reach
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is giving its content library a fresh passport. The company has stepped up its syndication push, signing global partnerships, experimenting with new-age formats and building a multi-channel network that now spans more than 350 channels.
With the newly secured MCN licence, Zee can manage, distribute and monetise content across leading digital platforms at scale, strengthening its presence in the fast-growing creator and short-form ecosystem.
To keep pace with changing viewing habits, the company is also reshaping its content into formats built for the small screen in your hand. In a tie-up with micro-drama platform Story TV, select titles are being reworked into vertical, short-duration episodes tailored for mobile-first audiences.
Beyond India, the syndication team is widening its global footprint with foreign-language dubbing and regional partnerships across Europe, Africa and Latin America, opening up fresh markets for Indian stories.
Zee is also tapping into the audio boom. It has begun licensing audio remake rights for legacy properties such as Zee Horror Show, with several more titles lined up for audio-first adaptations.
On the digital front, the company has made progress in monetising non-exclusive rights for library films, while converting select shows and movies from horizontal to vertical formats to improve discoverability on short-form platforms.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. business head syndication Vinod Johri, said syndication has emerged as a strong growth lever for the company. He noted that the combination of a large MCN network, global partnerships and new formats such as vertical video and audio is helping build a future-ready engine that extracts more value from the content library.
Together, these moves signal a platform-agnostic approach to storytelling, as Zee repackages, localises and redistributes its IP across geographies, formats and screens, ensuring its catalogue keeps working long after the first broadcast.
