MUMBAI: One of the Indian firms that will have a major presence at next month‘s television trade event is Zee. The firm is buoyed by the fact that that India is the country of honour and is looking to boost relationships with partners.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Neil Chakravarti, business head for Zee‘s English channels, says Subhash Chandra‘s media conglomerate will have a presence across multiple areas. These will be content acquisition, syndication and strategic dialogue. The third area could include doing co-productions. In terms of acquisitions, Zee is looking at different content like films, television series, as well as buying formats like telenovellas.
Chakravarthi adds that a lot of content for the network comes from the US, Western Europe. South East Asia is also growing as a market for the network, he points out.
As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Chandra will deliver a keynote address at Mipcom. In terms of licensing and syndication, Zee head - Asia Pacific, international business Mukund Cairae, is leading the networks efforts. Cairae says that properties that Zee will push there include the family dramas/soaps - Teen Bahuraniyan, Jab Love Hua, Kassam Se, Dulhan. It will also push the costume drama Ravan as well as Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, a show that profiles celebs.
"We are also taking a slate of Bollywood movies to Mipcom. These are Sholay, the Raj Kapoor starrer Awara, Shahrukh Khan‘s Baazigar, Taal with Aishwarya Rai. Adding variety to our catalogue are general entertainment shows. In the travelogue genre there is Full Circle. In fashion we will showcase Trendsetters. In cookery there is Khana Khazana. From the Jagran channel we will be showcasing a Tarot show Home Healers. From the Zee Music library we are taking B-News.
"We are also taking up a tent just outside the Palais announcing Zee‘s presence and directing inquiries to the sales booth as mentioned above. We are also throwing an exclusive party for our clients on 9 October at La Mandala opposite the Carlton hotel on the beach. However we are currently not looking at selling formats at Mipcom."
And what significance does India being the country of honour at the event have for Indian firms? "India being the country of honour does bring the focus of the Mipcom press and those attending to Indian content suppliers. With the largest library of Indian content there is a benefit that Zee will derive by riding on this. Our chairman Subhash Chandra being the keynote speaker also would focus attention on the stall and content sales."
