GECs
Zoom in rejig mode, adds Bollywood flavour
MUMBAI: Zoom has been primarily associated with Page 3 content on and around celebrities. But now the non-fiction lifestyle and entertainment channel wants to become broadbased and create an urban mass appeal to attract maximum viewership.
For starters, it has gone completely Hindi from being partially English in its initial stages as it plans to look at a wider audience.
Zoom has also initiated several activities to create properties around events. Currently focusing more on the entertainment news, they have just relaunched their show Popkorn News in a new form.
Says Zoom business head M K Anand, “The channel has become more centrist now. Initially, the shows were a little edgy. Today we are the only service filing 200 Bollywood stories per week. With our initiatives like Popkorn News we compete straight with news channels.”
To extend the entertainment news section, Zoom would be launching a half hour entertainment news-based show in the first quarter of next year. Unlike Popkorn News, this one won’t be pre-recorded but would go live.
Says Anand, “Currently we don’t have an infrastructure to go live but we certainly plan it for the next year. This will be a big step to further our target to compete with the news channels.”
The other show Page 3 has also roped in new anchors Supreet Bedi and Pooja Sharma who take the viewers into the world of the most talked about socialites, stars, fashion gurus and corporate big wigs. And Weekend Page 3 is a compilation of week’s parties, events and exhibition.
“Today there is an inate requirement to look and learn. Peoplr pick up fashion trends and style from a channel like Zoom and with such initiatives we are just staying true to the urban appeal,” says Anand.
Zoom is looking at gaining distribution. As a strategy to improve sampling, it has introduced 2 se 5, an afternoon slot dedicated completely to movies.
Talking about this initiative Anand says, ” Movies is just a short time initiative. We don’t plan to do a decibel marketing of movies by acquiring big titles. Its just to improve our viewership. We plan to flash the promos of our shows during the slot so viwers can know more about the shows.”
For this month, Zoom has lined up movies like Shabd, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and 7 1/2 Phere.
The coming year would see Zoom engaging in various events. There would be Banoongi Main Miss India in February-March, followed by Zoom Holi party in March and the Zoom Glam awards in March-April.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
