GECs
Big Magic goes seasonal
MUMBAI: In a country where daily soaps rule, Big Magic, the flagship general entertainment channel of Reliance Broadcast Network, is all set to adopt a new seasonal format.
Starting 29 December, the channel with its core positioning of being chatpata har pal, will introduce seasonal formats across its popular shows like Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal, Uff Yeh Nadaniyaan, Ajab Ghajab Ghar Jamai and MahiSagar. With this format, the channel aims to emphasise on freshness in characters, more comedy twists in plots, new themes in a four week long season format.
New seasons for the shows kicks off as below:
Uff Yeh Nadaniyan – 29 Dec
Har Mushkil ka Hal Akbar Birbal – 15 Jan
Ajab Ghajab Ghar Jamai – 12 Jan
Mahisaagar – 19 Jan
With the seasonal format kicking in, the channel will see transformation in existing characters, new character introductions new high points – with an unpredictable climax at the end. It will continue its episodic formats but will bring in more comedy, quirky and over the top elements to garner a higher space in the comedy genre. The season will be divided into – premieres, mid-season and season finale.
Talking about the new season format, Reliance Broadcast Network creative director Uditanshu Mehta said, “At Big Magic, we regularly aim to bring in innovation and newness across our shows. Our regular innovation and programming spikes have ensured time spent on our channel has increased excellently over the past few months, and alongside has audience expectations. This move is part of our endeavor to ensure we deliver to our discerning viewers a truly chatpata experience through our programming.”
The channel emphasises that the move will also allow marketers an effective window which can be perfectly timed to their campaigns, since they can now partner seasons, which are shorter and ensure high audience engagement.
As a part of the larger programming strategy, Big Magic will be incorporating interesting storylines in their leading shows.
The spikes will be marketed heavily across television, radio and digital, ensuring excellent promotions and reach with a 360 degree marketing plan.
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.
