GECs
Libyans ecstatic over Arab ‘Idol’ outcome
MUMBAI: The ‘Idol’ phenomenon is making waves all over the world. While the Indian Idol from Sony Entertainment Television’s stable has kicked off its ground activities in various Indian cities, the Middle East’s Arab Idol – Super Star has just been announced, however, not without its share of controversies.
The two finalists for the Super Star were a Libyan dental student – Ayman al-Attar and a Palestinian singer – Amar Hassan, of whom Attar emerged the winner. While the Libyans are ecstatic with the outcome, some Palestinians ascribed their defeat to underhand tactics by the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who allegedly boosted his contestant’s vote by allowing free telephone calls in Libya.
Palestinians are alleging that Gaddafi was instrumental in backing a costly nationwide publicity campaign and also arranged for free phone calls for Libyans who wanted to vote.
The poll of almost six million was won by al-Attar 54 percent to 46 percent. According to a report published in The Jerusalem Post, Hassan’s success was viewed as a barometer of Arab support for the Palestinians, after the Palestinian Authority endorsed him as an important symbol of the struggle against Israel. Official celebrations planned across the territories were immediately cancelled when Hassan lost, to widespread local disbelief. Many said they expected him to win the title, not only because he was a better singer, but because Arab viewers would sympathise with him as a Palestinian struggling against Israel.
According to another media report, one Palestinian computer expert said that he had devised a shortcut that would allow easy multiple voting for Ammar Hasan.
Hassan was among the 6,000 aspiring singers who had auditioned for “Super Star”, of whom 17 were chosen. Out of the 17, two were chosen for the final and deciding round.
On the other hand, some Palestinian militants objected to the hoopla that was spun around the talent hunt. Islamic groups like the militant Hamas said that it distracted the public from a two-week-old hunger strike by some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners demanding better conditions in Israeli jails.
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.
