Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) (formerly Zee Telefilms) is an Indian media conglomerate. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has interests in television, print, internet, film, and businesses related to mobile content, and operates 35 channels worldwide.
History Independent era
In April 1995, the company launched the premium movie channel Zee Cinema, the first channel of its sort in the country. Until 1999, programming was done by Star TV. In the following years Zee Cinema has also catered to international markets like South-East America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia and Asia Pacific and the Rest of Africa. Zee Cinema (Canada) is available in Canada as a joint ventures with Ethnic Group.
Zee Telefilms launched a Nickelodeon-branded programming block in 1999 as part of a distribution deal between Viacom International and Zee Telefilms. It was replaced by a new Cartoon Network block in 2002.
In 2008, Zee Networks launched Zee Motion Pictures and Zee Limelight (now Zee Studios) for the development, production, distribution and marketing of mainstream films in Indian languages, including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi.
In 2015, Zee acquired Sarthak TV, an Odia-language pay television channel.
In 2017, the company acquired the majority stake of the Reliance Broadcast Network. It also planned to acquire 9X Media in October 2017 for the cost of 160 crore, however, the plan fell through in March 2018. A partially owned subsidiary, Diligent Media Corporation, is a publisher of Indian daily newspapers and websites. DMC is a joint venture between Zee and the Dainik Bhaskar Group.
In 2018, Zee launched Zee Theatre, which offers a collection of recorded theatre plays also called teleplay- produced in India and internationally.
Sale talks In February 2019, media reported that Essel Group was in talks to sell their shares from the Zee Entertainment Enterprises to save them from debt.
Top Sony officials including Mike Hopkins, chairman of Sony Pictures Television, and Tony Vinciquerra, chairman of Sony Pictures, had visited Subhash Chandra and his family at his residence shortly after Chandra announced his intent to sell half of the promoter holding in Zee Entertainment Enterprises to a global strategic investor.On 2 April reports said that some other promoters were willing to sell their shares worth 332 crore. On 3 April media reported the Sony and Zee Entertainment Enterprises deal was off.
On 1 August media reports Invesco Oppenheimer Fund to buy 11% stake in Zee Entertainment.
In September 2021, it was reported that Invesco Developing Markets Funds and OFI Global China Fund LLC, who jointly holds a 17.88% stake, wanted Punit Goenka (also the son of founder) to step down as MD and CEO. It was also reported that Essel Group owns a sum of 3.99% minority stake.
In 2024, Zee Entertainment Enterprises partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Attempted merger with Sony Pictures Networks India On 22 September 2021, the company announced its intent to merge with Sony Pictures Networks India. Sony Pictures will hold a majority stake in the proposed merged entity, which will be headed by Zee's Punit Goenka. In December 2021, the merger was approved by the two companies boards. Sony will hold a stake close to 51% in the company, with Zee controlling the remaining stake.
On 10 August 2023, the National Company Law Tribunal approved the proposed Sony/Zee merger.
On 18 January 2024, the anticipated $10 billion merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sony Pictures India progressed as ZEE's stock increased amid reports that CEO Punit Goenka might step down, potentially resolving a major deadlock in the merger process. However, on 22 January 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India issued a notice to Zee Entertainment Enterprises effectively terminating the merger proceedings due to, among other reasons, the closing conditions to the merger not being satisfied by the given deadline of 21 January.
Controversy Dispute between promoters On 11 September 2021, Invesco asked Zee management to call shareholders an "extraordinary general meeting" (EGM) to consider its demands. One of the main demands was the removal of Punit Goenka, son of the Zee Network founder. However Zee board rejects a demand from Invesco to convene an extraordinary general meeting. Invesco Developing Market Funds Moves to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Bombay High Court seeking a mandatory order for Zee Enterprises Entertainment Limited (ZEEL) to call the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) that the shareholder has been demanding.
Zee Board replied to Invesco's open letter saying they didn't care about the company, and Invesco was not motivated by concerns related to any corporate governance issue but "by the events that transpired during February–April 2021 pointing Invesco purposed deal with Reliance Industries.
On 21 October, Bombay High Court asked the Zee board to call EGM as demanded by shareholder Invesco, and Counsel appearing for Zee Entertainment said the company will inform the date of the EGM by the morning of 22 October.
On 22 October, Zee replied to the court that the board can't give a nod to something that will turn out to be illegal, so HC postponed hearing of the Zee-Invesco matter to 26 October. Also, on 26 October Bombay High Court had restrained Invesco from taking any action in furtherance of their requisition notice (to call an EGM).
On 7 December, Invesco headed towards a resolution expected to back the merger deal with Sony as long as the Goenka family does not get any preferential equity.
On 22 December, Board of Zee signed definitive agreements with Sony after received approval from its board of directors
Zee Music vs Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam alleged that he was banned by the Zee Music Company after he tweeted in support of politician Kumar Vishwas.
Owned assets On-air channels India ChannelLaunchedLanguageCategorySD/HDNotes Zee TV 1992 Hindi General Entertainment SD+HD &TV 2015 Anmol TV 2013 SD Formerly known as Zee Anmol Zee Zindagi 2014 Zee Cinema 1995 Movies SD+HD Zee Classic 2005 SD Zee Action 2006 Big Magic 2011 Zee Bollywood 2018 Anmol Cinema 2016 Formerly known as Zee Anmol Cinema Anmol Cinema 2 2024 Replaced Zee GangaFormerly known as Zee Anmol Cinema 2 & Pictures 2013 SD+HD & Xplor 2019 SD+HD SD Replaced & Prive HD Zing 2009 Youth SD Formerly Zee Muzic Unite8 Sports 1 2026 Sports SD+HD Replaced Zee Café Unite8 Sports 2 2026 English Replaced &flix Zee Zest 2010 HindiEnglish Lifestyle SD+HD Formerly Zee Khana Khazana and Living Foodz Zee Theatre 2018 HindiEnglishUrduMarathiGujarati TV Plays SD Zee Bangla 1999 Bengali General Entertainment SD+HD Formerly Alpha TV Bangla Zee Bangla Sonar 2025 Movies SD Replaced Zee Bangla Cinema Zee Biskope 2020 Bhojpuri Zee Marathi 1999 Marathi General Entertainment SD+HD Formerly Alpha TV Marathi Zee Yuva 2016 SD Zee Talkies 2007 Movies SD+HD Zee Sarthak 2010 Odia General Entertainment SD Formerly Sarthak TV Zee Punjabi 2020 Punjabi Formerly Alpha TV Punjabi Zee Tamil 2008 Tamil General Entertainment SD+HD Zee Thirai 2020 Movies Zee Telugu 2004 Telugu General Entertainment Formerly Alpha TV Telugu Zee Cinemalu 2016 Movies Zee Kannada 2006 Kannada General Entertainment Zee Power 2025 Movies SD Replaced Zee Picchar Zee Keralam 2018 Malayalam General Entertainment SD+HD International ChannelLaunchedLanguageCategorySD/HDBroadcast RegionNotes Zee Magic 2015 French General EntertainmentSD AfricaIndian Ocean Zee Bioskop 2014 Indonesian General Entertainment Indonesia Zee Aflam2008ArabicMovies ChannelMiddle EastZee Alwan2012General Entertainment Middle East and North AfricaZee Dunia2025SwahiliEnglishGeneral EntertainmentKenyaZee Nung2014ThaiGeneral EntertainmentThailandZee Alem2020AmharicGeneral EntertainmentEthiopiaZee One Africa2021EnglishisiZuluGeneral Entertainment South AfricaZee Zonke2023isiZuluGeneral EntertainmentSD+HDZee Mundo2016SpanishGeneral EntertainmentSD+HDUnited StatesLatin AmericaZee Bollyworld2015HindiEnglishGeneral EntertainmentHDLatin AmericaZee Sine2016 (Original)2025 (Relaunch)FilipinoMovies ChannelHDPhilippinesZee World2015 EnglishGeneral EntertainmentSD+HD AfricaZee Bollymovies2017Movies ChannelSDZee One2016 (Original) 2023 (Relaunch)GermanFrenchEnglishGeneral EntertainmentSD+HDEU
Defunct channels ChannelLaunchedDefunctLanguageCategorySD/HDNotes EL TV 1996 1998 Hindi General Entertainment SD Replaced with Zee India TV Zee Smile 2004 2016 Formerly Smile TV 9X 2007 2015 Acquired from 9X Media Zee Next 2007 2009 Zee Premier 2006 2015 Movies Formerly Premier Cinema ā Music Asia 1997 2000 Music Replaced with Zee Muzic Zee Muzic 2000 2009 Replaced with Zing TV Zee ETC Bollywood 1999 2020 Formerly ETC and ETC Bollywood ZeeQ 2010 2017 Kids Zee Jagran 2005 2015 Devotional Zee Khana Khazana 2010 2015 Lifestyle Replaced with Living Foodz Zee India TV 1998 1999 Infotainment Replaced with Zee News Zee Café 2000 2026 English General Entertainment SD+HD Replaced with Unite8 Sports 1 (Hindi) &flix 2018 2026Movies Replaced with Unite8 Sports 2 (English) Zee Select 2004 2005 SD Formerly MX Zee Studio 2005 2018 Formerly Zee Movies, Zee MGM and Zee Movie Zone (ZMZ) Replaced With &flix &Privé HD 2017 2026 HD Replaced With & Xplor SD Zee Trendz 2003 2014 LifestyleSD Formerly Trendz TV Zee Sports 2005 2010 Sports Merged with TEN Action Living Foodz 2015 2020 EnglishHindi Lifestyle SD+HD Replaced with Zee ZestLiving Zen20162019SD Living Travelz 2017 2017 Knowledge Zee Bangla Cinema 2012 2025 Bengali Movies Replaced with Zee Bangla Sonar Zee Ganga 2013 2024 BhojpuriGeneral Entertainment Replaced with Zee Anmol Cinema 2 Zee Gujarati 2000 2009 Gujarati Formerly Alpha TV Gujarati Zee Chitramandir 2021 2026Marathi Movies Formerly Zee Zabardast Zee Vajwa 2020 2022 Music Zee ETC Punjabi 2001 2014 Punjabi General Entertainment Formerly ETC Punjabi Zee Picchar 2020 2025 Kannada Movies SD+HD Replaced with Zee Power
Over The Top (OTT)
In February 2016, Zee Entertainment Enterprises forayed into video-on-demand with the launch of its OTT platform OZEE.
On 14 February 2018, this service rebranded as ZEE5. Since its relaunch as ZEE5, it streams all content from its television network and also movies and original series. ZEE5 claimed 57 million monthly active users in December 2019.
Other assets Publishing Source: bgr Mollywood cricket country The health site India.com Sugarbox Zee5X
Event management Source: Zee Live Super moon, Arth, Edu care, It's A Girl Thing Zee Theatre
Film distribution and music Zee Studios Zee Plex (movie-on-demand service) Zee Music Company
References
External links