GECs
&TV takes HD route in UK
MUMBAI: Sky viewers in UK will have a first free South Asian entertainment channel in High Definition (HD). This, after &TV, the new Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) from Zee Network, launched its HD feed in UK on the platform.
&TV HD is the first and only South Asian entertainment channel to offer its full range of shows in full HD at no extra cost to Sky viewers.
The channel saw a gala launch just a few months ago, with King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited MD and CEO Punit Goenka.
Derived from the conjunction ‘&’, the channel stands for binding people, ideologies and philosophies. Representing excellence, the channel mirrors the thinking and values of an evolved India with the shows having a contemporary touch, depicting the progressiveness in the mind-set of the viewers with a twist. &TV HD will further grow on the remit of the channel and celebrate the spirit of living with full vibrancy.
Viewers will now be able to enjoy the fun of Gangaa, the comedy of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai, the history of Razia Sultan, the action of Begusarai and the love story of Badi Devraani among others in sparkling quality. Even more exciting will be the magnanimous music reality series The Voice – India in HD, with Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Himesh Reshammiya and Mika as judges and the fantastic singing talent of India!
As well as exciting shows, &TV HD has a huge line up of Bollywood blockbusters this July to keep its new audience hooked to the HD offering. Watch out for big titles Chennai Express, Main Tera Hero and many more in its weekend specials.
Zee Network Europe CEO Neeraj Dhingra said, “As a pioneering network we pride ourselves in providing excellent entertainment and we will continue to go all out in doing this in the most innovative way. &TV is unique in the market with its top quality shows and now this will be enhanced with the HD offering. The wait is over for people wanting a world class HD channel that is available for free in the Asian market. Being in line with giving extra to the viewers, &TV HD is now the one-stop for full South Asian entertainment with a high definition experience. It’s a part of the strategy where we want to engage and connect with the South Asian viewers and provide them a fantastic viewing experience like no one else.”
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.
