Mumbai − ZEE Europe, the largest South Asian Entertainment Network celebrated the completion of 20 years of Zee TV in Europe with a special gala, where it announced the launch of &TV, a brand new Entertainment Channel. Amidst huge fanfare and aplomb, the celebration was a special one, as it was attended by Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) and Rajesh Iyer, Business Head, &TV, both of whom flew in from India just for the occasion. This was topped by the appearance of none other than the King of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan, making the event an unforgettable one.
Derived from the conjunction ‘&’, the channel stands for binding people, ideologies and philosophies. The content of the channel is contemporary and contextual, depicting the progressiveness of the viewers. &TV will ‘celebrate the spirit of living’ through its content offering. Shah Rukh Khan hosted the channels’ flagship show India Poochega – Sabse Shaana Kaun, where contestants join the ‘King of Bollywood’ on stage. Like the host, the format of the game show challenges conventions, whereby the common man dons the role of the ‘asker’, as well as that of the ‘contestant’. While the askers pose the questions, the contestants demonstrate their street-smartness to win the coveted prize money.
Talking about his long lasting relationship with ZEE, Shah Rukh Khan said he was thrilled to officially launch the new channel along with Mr. Punit Goenka and also shook a leg to a few of his chartbuster songs, in the awesome medley put together by the Shiamak Davar London dance troupe.
Commenting on the 20 years celebration, Mr. Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL, said, “We are proud to be a medium through which Indians living abroad have stayed connected to their roots back home all these years and we will continue to entertain and engage audiences with a unique blend of high-quality and innovative programming”. On the launch of the new channel &TV he said, “&TV will offer a more substantial viewing experience to an audience that is always seeking fresh and relevant content. We are certain that with the launch of &TV, we will capitalise on further such opportunities to build a robust entertainment bouquet and march ahead towards achieving the global ambitions set for the company. Finally we are so proud to be working with Shah Rukh Khan on our flagship show India Poochega – Sabse Shaana Kaun – Mr Khan has poured his heart and soul into the show and we know it will bring great joy to our European audiences.”
Mr. Neeraj Dhingra, ZEE Europe CEO, said, “Zee TV has been a pioneer in bringing great Asian entertainment to the UK and fostering the cultural ties with India. We are certain that with the launch of the contemporary channel &TV, these ties will strengthen. The channel promises multi-dimensional content and a strong line-up of entertainment and reality shows, and we are beyond excited to have Shah Rukh Khan as the host of our flagship entertainment programme. We are certain that the audience will enjoy seeing a different side of their superstar!”
&TV unveiled a range of its programming at the event, starting with the magnum opus Razia Sultan, an untold story of the 13th century. Begusarai is a quintessential quirky land set in the hinterland of Bihar. The quirky saga of Begusarai promises to light up the small screen with a whole lot of drama and a refreshing dialect. Gangaa is an inspiring story of a child widow who is characterised with the indomitable spirit and will to survive. Furthermore, the channel showcased Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, which brings to life the lively lanes of Kanpur and introduces two neighbouring couples. The sitcom promises rib tickling comedy while bringing forth human tendencies. Bhaghyalakshmi is a simple story of an ambitious young girl who aspires to chase her dreams and at the same time strike a balance with the family.
The channel also has two unique weekend shows, Killer Karaoke – Atka Toh Latkah, a singing show with a twist and Tujhse Naaraz Nahi Zindagi, an inspiring show based on the common issues faced by people.
