GECs
Insat 4-A installed in payload dispenser system for 22 Dec launch
MUMBAI: India’s communication payload Insat-4A has been installed atop its Sylda multi-payload dispenser system ahead of its 22 December launch onboard an Ariane 5 generic launcher from the European Space port of Kourou in French Guiana.
The satellite, the heaviest of the Indian communication satellites, carries a mixed payload of 12 Ku-band and 12 C-band transponders. It is also the first in India’s new Insat-4 telecommunications spacecraft series that will provide coverage over the Indian subcontinent. The 12 Ku Band transponders have been leased out to the new Tata-Sky joint venture for direct-to-home (DTH) transmission using Vsats. These transponders could offer DTH customers a bundle of 150 television channels.
The action occurred inside the Ariane 5 final assembly building. As can be seen in the picture featured alongside, Insat-4A is lowered into the assembly fixture, with its Sylda dispenser visible at the bottom center of the photo.
The mated Insat-4A/Sylda unit is to be integrated with the protective payload fairing, and this combination will be positioned over Europe’s MSG-2 second-generation metrological satellite on top of Ariane 5 to complete the payload “stack.”
Liftoff of the Ariane 5 Generic vehicle with Insat 4A and MSG-2 is set for 21 December (around 2 am on 22 December India time).
The MSG-2 platform will provide high-resolution images of the Earth’s weather activity, and is to measure the planet’s radiation balance for information on climate change.
GECs
Zee tops fiction charts across six languages with strong show lineup
Broadcaster secures nearly half of top 10 spots as fiction strategy pays off
MUMBAI: Fiction is proving to be Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd’s winning script. The broadcaster has emerged as the dominant force in television fiction, occupying an average of five spots in the top 10 charts across six major language markets.
Across Hindi (Pay), Marathi, Bangla, Odia, Kannada and Telugu general entertainment channels, the company commands a 48 per cent share of the top 10 fiction rankings, according to BARC data for weeks four to seven of 2026 among urban audiences aged 15 and above.
The strong showing reflects the company’s renewed focus on storytelling driven by cultural insight and local relevance. With family viewing still centred around prime time, Zee continues to attract more than 20 per cent viewership share across genres in this high engagement window, outperforming competitors.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, chief content officer Raghavendra Hunsur, said the results underline the effectiveness of the company’s sharply defined multilingual content strategy.
“The achievement is a firm testament to our content strategy across languages, which is clearly resonating with viewers,” Hunsur said. “Fiction shows remain the heart of entertainment. We will continue building both fiction and non fiction offerings that are authentic, engaging and rooted in local storytelling.”
The company’s Hindi flagship channel Zee TV has placed four relatively new launches among the top 10 shows in the Hindi Pay GEC category. These include Tumm Se Tumm Tak, Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan, Vasudha and Lakshmi Nivas, all introduced within the past 18 months.
Regional markets are delivering equally strong performances. Zee Marathi has recorded a 470 basis point rise in market share to 34.7 per cent in January 2026 compared with January 2025. Four of its shows, Kamli, Taarini, Veen Doghatli Hi Tutena and Lakshmi Nivas, feature among the top 10 in the Marathi GEC genre.
In eastern India, Zee Bangla has reclaimed leadership in the Bangla GEC segment in week seven of 2026, driven by five shows in the top 10 including Parineeta, Taare Dhori Dhori Mone Kori, Jowar Bhata, Amader Dadamoni and Chirodini Tumi Je Amar. The top ranked show Parineeta draws inspiration from Gen Z insights, reflecting changing audience sensibilities.
Zee Sarthak continues its five year leadership streak in the Odia GEC space with shows such as Sathi Sata Janmara, Suna Jhia, Tu Khara Mu Chhai, Tuma Bina and Bhagya Rekha occupying the top positions.
In the south, Zee Kannada maintains its long standing dominance, leading the Kannada GEC market for seven consecutive years. Seven fiction titles including Karna, Lakshmi Nivasa, Annayya, Amruthadhaare, Naa Ninna Bidalaare, Adi Lakshmi Purana and Brahmagantu form the top 7 shows in the category.
Zee Telugu is also gaining ground, emerging as the biggest channel across genres in Hyderabad while strengthening its position in the Telugu GEC segment across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Shows such as Jagadhatri, Meghasandesam, Jayam and Chamanthi occupy four of the top 10 spots.
With its regional channels gaining traction, Zee says it will continue sharpening its content playbook, focusing on stories that reflect everyday lives while tapping into evolving viewer preferences across markets.
