Zee TV, a flagship channel of Zee Network, was launched in October 1992. Zee TV channels can be accessed from more than 80 countries and more than 225 million viewers switch onto this channel globally. Zee-TV has enjoyed phenomenal success, surpassing STAR-TV and Doordarshan with certain audiences. It consistently dominates the 10 highest-rated television shows in India, in a pattern somewhat similar to that of the Fox Television Network in the United States. Zee-TV excels at populist-type television programming.
In all these years Zee TV has created strong brand equity and is the largest media franchise serving the South Asian diaspora. One of the first channels to be launched in the Indian cable network, Zee TV has driven the growth of the satellite and cable industry in India. The popularity of Zee arises from its understanding of Indian culture and beliefs which are depicted in its programming. Realising its strength in programming and the need for Indian entertainment in the overseas market, the company launched Zee TV in the UK / Europe (1995), the USA (1998), Africa (1998) and today is available across five continents. Zee TV carries broadcasts in Hindi and Urdu.
Being the most popular, in the same row as Star Plus, Zee TV has won numerous viewer-choice awards for its programmes both nationally as well as internationally, including the prestigious EMMA Award for the best digital / satellite digital in UK in 1998. Zee TV was formerly a tie-up with Star TV. When Rupert Murdoch`s News Corporation acquired STAR, Star ended their partnership with Zee.
Zee TV`s programming delivers a variety of choices for all segments of the audience. It includes primetime comedy and drama series, television movies, miniseries, theatrical films, specials, children`s programs, daytime dramas, game shows, and late night shows. Zee has always believed in bringing innovative programming to its viewers. Since its inception the channel has introduced ground-breaking programming like Just Ek Minute, Saapseedi, the popular game shows, Tara, Banegi Apni Baat, Antakshari and blockbuster programming like Saregama, Dastaan, Chattan, Hasratein and Sailaab. All these programmes proved to be major successes with local audiences and were bench marks in their times. Other original programming includes Zee Horror Show, X-Zone, Saturday Suspense, Rishtey along with dramas like Amaanat, Ashirwaad, Basera, Koshish Ek Asha and Mehendi Tere Naam Ki. The two most famous shows of Zee TV have been Antakshari hosted by Anu Kapoor and Sa Re Ga Ma, a singing talent show. With reality shows gaining popularity Zee TV had also launched a show close to reality and talent hunt names, Zee Cinestar ki Khoj, which was a show to hunt acting talents in the country and was a huge success.
Zee TV is the only channel to offer daily news feeds in Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati from the sub-continent as well as other popular programs. Today the channel has a multi genre offering again and is living up to its image of being a socially conscious channel. With path breaking shows like Saat Phere, Kasamh Se, Shabaash India and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs, and the channel has established icons such as Saloni, Bani, Aanya, Nahar and Jai Walia etc. big names like the Aditya Birla Group also launched an exciting show called Business Baazigar, supposed to be India`s first reality business show on Indian Television. The Zee Network also holds the Zee Cine awards for the Bollywood film industry, which is considered the prestigious award just aftr Filmfare and screen. The Zee Cine awards are aired every year on Zee TV, with increasing number of sponsors every year.
Zee TV for the Asia region is up linked from Singapore and uses Asiasat-3S. The UK playout is done from London and uses the BskyB platform while the USA playout is carried out from Cheyenne and uses the Echostar platform. Playout for the Africa broadcast is done from Singapore and signals are carried on Intelsat. Recently in the year 2006, there were talks of Zee TV going off air. Eight channels of Zee network were to go off air. The channels included Zee Cinema, Zee TV, Zee Studio, HBO, Cartoon Network, POGO, CNN and CNBC.
Zee TV is one of the most watched private television channels in India. The host of serials, news features, reality shows and other programmes featured on this channel has its own glamour and popularity. Recently, Zee TV is airing various kinds of talent hunt shows all over India.
