Television
Breaking Bad now in Hindi, premiering exclusively on Zee Café!
Mumbai:Breaking Bad, a show which has won 64 Emmy Awards and seven Golden Globe Awards will be telecast in Hindi by ZEE Cafe for the Indian audiences. Zee Café’s exclusive Hindi version of ‘Breaking Bad’ gives Heisenberg a Desi twist in a one-of-a-kind promo!
Zee Cafe has been at the forefront when it comes to bringing foreign language content and were the first ones to introduce K-Dramas and Animes in their programming. They have now hit another ball out of the stadium as they announced the telecast of the most iconic series in the history of television. The show holds its popularity even after more than 10 years of its first date of airing and has been the talking point for fans on social media. The stature of the show can be judged by the fact that celebrities like Shahrukh Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Ranbir Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Anil Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra amongst others have expressed their desire to be a part of the show if ever it is remade in Hindi.
Zee Cafe in order to build the buzz recently made cryptic posts about the show and received a whooping number of queries from the audiences. These posts also excited Youtubers and influencers and channels like Charcha with Bhurani and Strangers Review who shared their joy in their videos.
Created by Vince Gilligan, the gripping crime drama showcases the transformation of the lead character Walter White from a high school chemistry teacher to a methamphetamine producer in order to save his family’s future. The show focusing on the themes of antihero, power and integrity makes for a riveting watch for the viewers. It answered the question middle-aged men had asked of themselves for generations: what would happen if I quit my boring job and became an outlaw? And… it was quite dynamic and engaging. As of 26 July 2023, the show has been rated 9.5 on IMDb and is one of the critically acclaimed shows loved by critics and viewers alike. It is known for its iconic dialogues, characters and very engaging storyline. Popular AI tools such as Google Bard also identifies Breaking Bad as one of the best television shows of all time.
By bringing the timeless show in the native language of India, Zee Café is reaching a larger audience in the country and catering to the cultural diversity of the country. Sharing his excitement for bringing Breaking Bad in Hindi, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. chief business officer – English cluster Rishi Parekh shared, “At Zee Café, we are committed to providing engaging and valuable content to the viewers purely based on their interests. We have been quick to recognize the trends and align with them in our programming. We were the pioneers at introducing K-Dramas and Animes in their original language and now, we are all excited to present the iconic drama Breaking Bad in Hindi. It’s a celebrated series that captivated the hearts of many across the globe and surely deserves to reach to the grassroots of India. The show’s first season aired in 2008 and is still known amongst some of the most critically acclaimed shows of all times. Zee Café is bringing the show in Hindi to ensure more penetration, and to make certain that the language barrier doesn’t keep the audience deprived of some exceptional content. The Hindi adaptation of Breaking Bad protects the original plot, characters and moral stand that made the show an international success and we are confident that the brilliant storytelling of the show brought to the Indian audience in their local language will definitely strike a chord with its viewers.”
Sports
IPL 19 records 96.8 ad index as advertisers and categories decline: TAM Sports report
Fewer categories and advertisers as tech and FMCG brands reshape IPL ad mix
NEW DELHI: The on-field action remains strong, but advertising activity during the Indian Premier League has shown a slight shift this season. A report from TAM Sports, a division of TAM Media Research, indicates that the first 13 matches of IPL 19 have recorded a marginal decline in commercial volumes compared to the same phase last year.
Indexed ad volumes stood at 96.8, down from 100 in IPL 18. The number of advertising categories fell from over 50 to 40, while the advertiser base reduced from 65 to 45. At the same time, the number of channels broadcasting the tournament declined from 28 to 25.
Mouth Fresheners emerged as the leading category, contributing over 14 per cent of total ad volumes. Ecom-Other Services and Ecom-Wallets followed, maintaining a strong presence during the early part of the tournament.
The technology sector has gained prominence this season. Google ranked as the top advertiser, accounting for over 13 per cent of ad share. The company focused on promoting its Google Search Engine and Google Gemini AI platform. In contrast, categories such as Ecom-Gaming and Cellular Phones-Smart Phones did not feature among the leading segments this year.
TAM Sports analyst Arjun Sharma said the decline in volumes reflects a more focused approach by advertisers, with fewer but more prominent players dominating the space.
The report also identified new entrants, with ten additional categories including Chocolates, Laptops/Notebooks, and Hair Care products. Among companies, Vishnu Packaging and Reliance Consumer Products remained key advertisers, while Havells India and K P Pan Foods continued to feature prominently.
Among brands, Vimal Pan Masala and Kamla Pasand Silver Coated Elaichi recorded high visibility, while Cadburys Dairy Milk Chocolate was among the notable new entrants.
With the tournament still underway, advertising activity may increase in the coming weeks as more brands look to capitalise on IPL viewership.
