Zee Smile is a niche comedy channel from Zee Network. It made its appearance in the late 2003. This channel, as the name suggests, provides fun, laughter and entertainment round-the-clock with a wide range of entertainment with daily soaps, game shows, comedy chat shows and comedy movies. The programmes on this channel reflect only the lighter side of life. Their programmes are geared towards bringing hope, and not despair to the viewers.

Laughter gave way to tears at a time when comedies were getting thin. When the saas-bahu brigade entered the fray, reigning comedies such as Tu Tu Main Main were in their last season after running for a continuous two years. Comedy as a genre can`t retain audience interest for long, unlike dramas full of suspense and emotions that keep unfolding every day. No surprise then, that daily soaps still rule. But somewhere along the way industry leaders realised that while the soaps were the staple diet of the middle-aged and the old, the young, especially men, tended to keep away. Comedy, on the other hand, attracted a young audience, including the male viewer.

This channel is rated as India`s first `24 hour comedy television channel`. Previously the channel aired re-runs of popular comedy programmes that had run their innings on Zee TV. But ever since it has tweaked it`s programming and brought the channel on the free-to-air platform, Zee Smile has reported a 40 per cent increase in profits. Now It launched newer programmes as soon as it was made free-to-air. Zee had also launched an outdoor campaign for Smile, to create a consumer pull for the product. Smile is being offered to viewers as part of the Zee bouquet in all areas where Zee subsidiary MSO Siticable is present. While sitcoms and Hindi comedy films form the bulk of the programming now, sitcoms will form only a small part of the programming that the channel intends to offer over a period of time. Talks are on with production houses in the country for fresh comedy programming, that could also include other sub-genres of comedy like stand up and spoofs. Smile is the only 24-hour comedy channel in the country, as Sab with its mix of current affairs and comedy shows does not qualify as one. Smile TV has the potential to provide novel entertainment to all age group audiences. The programming mix of Smile TV has been developed with a prime objective to bring wholesome fun and entertainment, which will bring endless smiles to all our viewers. Shows like Kyon Ki Yeh Hai Hasya Kavi Muqabla, Yoyo, Ulta Pulta Ek Minute, Kahani Mein Twist Hai and Hasne Bhi Do Yaron are among the most watched ones. Naseer Khan and Sweta host Kyon Ki Yeh Hai Hasya Kavi Muqabla.The show aims at focusing on established poets as well as providing a platform for budding Hindi poets. Yoyo, produced by Jaay Productions is a comical-horror-satire about a young boy whose ancestral footprints run back to Aryabhatta the father of mathematics. Ulta Pulta Ek Minute, which recreates the magic of the popular game show Ek Minute in a different style and manner, is produced by Picasso Pictures India. Vishal Malhotra hosts the show. Kahani Mein Twist Hai produced by Srirang Godbole is a spoof on all popular daily soaps on Zee TV. Hasne Bhi Do Yaron, again by Godbole, is a one-hour Hindi comedy theatre show. Zee smile was also planning to launch a talent hunt based on a new format soon, a game show based on fun and laughter. Comedy, as a genre, is still at a nascent stage in Indian television. With fresh programming to support the channel, Zee Smile is positioned as a general entertainment channel with a `positive` outlook in its programmes. Zee Smile also airs a show called Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi Baatein with Anupam Uncle, to have on air a variety of shows to cater to viewers from different walks of life.But the business of laughter is not all that easy. Today, the comedy genre competes with the reality and drama categories for viewership. Channels are learning to tackle that by adding a dash of reality to the comedy recipe. Channels are also learning from international markets, where sitcoms have always had the highest TRPs, despite 10-year runs.