GECs
&TV hops on to StarHub platform in Singapore
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ newest Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) &TV will launch on Singapore’s StarHub platform.
From 16 September onwards, &TV will be available on StarHub TV’s Channel 165. To enable customers to view the channel on-the-go and across multiple devices, &TV will also be made available on StarHub Go, StarHub’s online streaming service.
At launch, viewers will be able to catch content such as Agent Raghav – Crime Branch, a fast paced crime-mystery thriller;Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, a comedy television series, Deal or No Deal, a game-show that revolves around the opening of a set of numbered briefcases and Gangaa, an inspiring story of a child widow.
“Zee Entertainment is one of India’s top entertainment companies, so we are delighted to introduce &TV to our viewers, adding yet another quality Zee channel into our Hindi lineup. We are confident that &TV will be a breath of fresh air and delight our viewers with its exciting and contemporary content,” said StarHub head of media business unit Lee Soo Hui.
Zee TV senior vice president – international business Tripta Singh added, “&TV focuses on young and edgy story-telling that preserves traditional Indian values at the same time. We are certain that the programme line-up of &TV will be welcomed by Indian viewers in Singapore. The launch of &TV takes the number of Zee channels on StarHub TV to six, augmenting our leadership in the Indian entertainment industry.”
To enable customers to sample the channel, &TV will be available for a month-long free preview from 9 am on 16 September to 12 pm on 16 October via StarHub TV and StarHub Go. Additionally, StarHub TV customers can subscribe to &TV as an a la carte channel at $8.56 (including GST) per month through Instant Buy via the blue button on their remote control, or sign up for Manoranjan Pack at a monthly subscription of $25.90. Both the subscribers of &TV and Manoranjan Pack will be able to view this channel via StarHub Go.
Manoranjan Pack comprises seven other Indian channels such as Zee TV, Zee TV HD, Zee News, Colors, Life OK, SET Asia and Star Plus.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
