GECs
Zee Anmol gets into original programming
MUMBAI: The free-to-air (FTA) general entertainment channel (GEC) – Zee Anmol, which until now aired some of the hit shows from its sister channel Zee TV, has now made its original programming debut.
The channel’s new show Vim Grihani No. 1, premiered on 10 April and will be aired every Friday at 6:30 pm.
“In a short while, Zee Anmol has challenged other players in the FTA genre to build a legacy of entertainment and emerge as a strong brand on television. It has touched people’s hearts through real and genuine emotions depicted in some of the best shows that Indian television has ever seen. With our first original production, Grihani No 1, Zee Anmol salutes every grihani (housewife) in India. They have been pillars of support to everyone around them. It is an exciting show that felicitates the woman of the house by making her feel special and acknowledging her selfless contribution towards her home,” said Zee TV & FTA cluster head marketing Sorbojeet Chatterjee.
Hosted by actor Ajay Singh Chaudhary, Vim Grihani No. 1 is an engagement led series revolving around one family in India in each episode. The search for Grihani No. 1 was conducted in many cities and towns in India including Deolali and Dhule in Maharashtra, Itarsi, Bhopal and Habibganj in Madhya Pradesh and Kanpur, Lucknow and Rai Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, amongst others.
Viewers also get an opportunity to invite Zee Anmol to their homes to felicitate their own Grihani No. 1. Every episode has the host interacting with the homemaker and her family members where they talk about her life, her dreams and ambitions. This will be followed by one minute games and quizzes related to the family.
The current lineup of programmes on the channel includes fiction and non-fiction properties from Zee TV, movies and kids’ content.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
