GECs
Channel7 to launch reality cricket show – ‘Scorpio Speedster’
– Hunt for India’s fastest bowler
New Delhi, October 22, 2005
In this era of reality shows, Channel7 presents a show which not only promises to enthral every cricket crazy Indian, but also give the nation its first speed demon – a genuine fast bowler. In line with the pulse of the nation, Channel7 will launch Scorpio Speedster, a nation wide talent hunt for India’s fastest bowler and presented in 13 episodes as World’s First Reality Cricket Show starting Saturday, October 22.
This pan India hunt is being conducted along with IMG, in 10 different cities and the contest is open to all aspiring pacers, who have the talent but lack the platform or the direction to make their dream a reality.
This thrilling series will be hosted by former Indian Cricket Captain and Channel7 Sports Expert Ajay Jadeja. The Half-hour long curtain raiser being aired on 22nd October, Saturday 10 PM, will set the stage for the actual series starting 29th October, which will take the viewers on a roller coaster ride covering the regional rounds across Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Gwalior, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and finally Mumbai (two cities per episode).
The semi-finals will see the nation’s 15 fastest bowlers competing for the coveted 7 Speedster slots. Once the 7 Speedsters have been selected the series goes into full gear and through professional bowling tests, coaches and instructors will drill the finalists for not just speed, but also other traits that a complete fast bowler must posses, such as accuracy, adaptability, endurance etc. At the end of the 13 episodes, the nation will get its first complete fast bowler. The award is a whopping Rs. 1 Million and a full season’s training at India’s premier fast bowling academy – the MRF Pace Foundation.
“The idea is not just to find who can bowl the fastest delivery in the nation, but to give India a TRUE speed demon, a potential cricketing icon, a COMPLETE fast bowler. Channel7 at its core is a News channel, but we’ve since inception always endeavoured to create quality non-fiction infotainment and have also prioritized Sports Journalism. Scorpio Speedster has given Channel7 a unique opportunity to merge all its visions and present to our viewers a compelling TV series.” Says Siddhartha Gupta, Director, Channel7 “
The talent hunt and TV Series is sponsored by Mahindra Scorpio, Canditi, Dominos, Adidas, Seagrams and Birla Life Insurance.
About Channel7
Channel7 is India’s fastest growing News Channel. It is a venture of Jagran TV Pvt Ltd., which is supported by the Jagran Group, best known for the No. 1 Hindi daily Dainik Jagran. The promoters of the Channel include Mahendra Mohan Gupta, Managing Editor and Managing Director JPPL and Chairman Jagran TV; Sanjay Gupta, Editor and Director JPPL; Shailesh Gupta, Director Marketing JPPL
Parul Bhasin
PR PUNDIT (A Brand Partner of PORTER NOVELLI)
P 2 Haus Khas, New Delhi 110 016
Tel: 011-26560415, 26513075; Fax: 011-26961835
E-mail : parul.b@prpundit.com
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.
