GECs
Zee Muzic on revamp mode with best of Bollywood
NEW DELH: Zee Muzic channel is once again in a revamp mode. This time its glossier and positioning itself as an aspirational channel, riding the Hindi film bandwagon in a big way, according to a TV executive.
The Zee management has taken a decision to position Zee Muzic as an aspirational channel showcasing the best of Bollywood, along with some zany veejays, said Irshwin N Balvani, the music channels business head.
According to Balvani, SEC A audiences too are being targeted now along with those in SEC B and C in tune with the channels repositioning. The music channel has access to a huge number of Hindi film songs owing to the networks big movie library.
Speaking to journalists at an event here on Wednesday, organised to unveil an all-new programming line-up, Balvani said that the distribution problem is being addressed very aggressively keeping the ground realities in mind.
If the all-India market share of Zee Muzic is to be seen, then it would be in the region of 65 per cent, but easy visibility is an issue because of lack of adequate bandwidth with cable operators everywhere.In some pockets of the country the channel is very strong, while in some others its not on tunable bandwidth at all, he explained, adding that in Chennai, for example, because of conditional access the music channel has almost 100 per cent presence in cable homes.
According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the Zee management has given the music channel managers approximately nine months to turn around the channel into a decent competition for the likes of MTV and Channel V, both of which have big groups backing it.
Of course, there is competition and we must strategise accordingly, but to say Zee Muzic is a forgotten product would be wrong, said Balvani, whos been brought in from Zoom TV after Pradeep Guha (a Times of India group strongman) took over as the CEO of Zee Telefilms some time back.
So, what does the new line-up at Zee Muzic look like? Its certainly packaged well with lots of gloss, loads of Bollywood and increased interactivity.
Model-turned-TV anchor Nina Manuel, model Aparna Kumar, Roshni Chopra , Mayank Anand and actor-singer Vikas Bhalla form the hip anchors of Zee Muzic.
Nina, who could also be seen on some other channels like NDTV 24×7, hosts Midnite Manual, Aparna is the presenter for Bollywood Tonight, while self confessed movie buff Roshni anchors Cinemascope. Vikas hosts Bollywood This Week and Mayank will be the anchor for the soon-to-be-launched Cine Song.
Zee Muzic is a 24-hour free-to-air music channel from the Zee stable. The channel is available in places like Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Fiji, Hong King, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Japan, Maldives, Thailand and the Middle East. A separate beam of Zee Muzic is also available in the UK and the US.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
