GECs
Big Magic to air ‘Akbar’ from 20 Feb
MUMBAI: BIG Magic, a variety general entertainment channel, adds yet another unique offering to its bouquet of shows with the launch of a first-of-its-kind historic drama, ‘Akbar’. The show aims to unravel the prodigious journey of the Mughal emperor right from the days of his childhood, and traces his path to the throne in a manner that has never been projected before on Indian television. The show boasts of a stellar cast, including child actor Bhavesh as Akbar, in addition to talented artists Ankur Nayyar, Rishina Kandhari, Hetal Yadav, andKareem Hanjee among others. ‘Akbar’ will be aired from February 20, every Monday to Friday at 7 PM on BIG Magic.
Speaking about the new show, spokesperson from BIG Magic said, “We are extremely happy to announce our new offering ‘Akbar’, which is relatable, inspiring and laced with unknown facts from Mughal history. People have always known Akbar as a powerful emperor, but this show unveils the struggle he went through as a child, before going on to acquire the throne. The show is unique because it offers a side of the emperor that has never been portrayed before to popular masses. Catering to all age groups, the show promises to be a family entertainer, and we hope to continue catering to the aims and aspirations of a large and steadily growing audience base.”
BIG Magic’s ‘Akbar’ will inspire viewers with its effective storyline, by showcasing the hardships of a young boy who went on to become a brilliant ruler, thereby contradicting popular belief that the throne did not come easily to him. The show will be driven by a 360-degree marketing approach, to reach out to the target markets through its various multi media campaigns on TV, radio, on-ground and digital.
BIG Magic is available across all DTH players such as Tata Sky, Airtel, Videocon, Dish TV, Reliance Digital TV along with all cable operators including Hathway, DD Free Dish, Incable, Digicable, DEN, 7 Star, ABS, Siticable, Star Broadband and GTPL amongst others.
Promo link- https://we.tl/Vdwhskvm7P
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.
