GECs
Ramayan finds markets overseas
MUMBAI: Ramayan, the epic that created history on Indian television in the late 1980s, has found new markets abroad.
Improved, dubbed versions of the epic were launched on ITV and Nepal 1 channels in London and Nepal respectively on the ocasion of Ram Navmi (11 April).
“The Nepalese dubbed version of Ramayan went on air on the recently launched Nepal 1 (promoted by Nalini Singh) and has received an astounding response. We have also launched the Tamil dubbed version with English subtitles on ITV channel in London. This was primarily to cater to the demands of the Sri Lankans viewers,” says Sagar Arts’ marketing director cum producer Prem Sagar.
“We have spent Rs 20 million in redesigning Ramayan. The digitized version has a contemporary sound track, look and feel. We have also released VCDs and DVDs of the epic which have shown record sales so far ,” he adds.
The improved version of Ramayan , is also having a re-run on Doordarshan Metro channel . “Even during its re-run, Ramayan on DD-2 gets a TRP of 8 plus in the 8 pm to 8:30 pm slot on Mondays,” informs Sagar.
The demand for the epic indicates that old popular serials, specially mythologicals, still have a market value. However, what remains to be seen is if the new version of the epic is able to spin the same magic abroad as it did in India in the late 80s, when it launched.
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.
