Tag Archives: Zee World

Zee World launches dance reality series

Hosts, judges and execs for Dance Naija Dance

English-language Bollywood TV broadcaster Zee World is set to debut new dance reality show Dance Naija Dance.

The show has begun production and will feature the top 16 finalists selected from more than 350 entries across Nigeria who will compete for a chance to win cash and non-cash prizes worth over N5m.

The first winning group will receive prizes worth N2.5m, the second group will taken home prizes worth N1.5m and the remaining N1m will be awarded to the best individual dancer.

The hosts will be Hero Daniels and Pelumi Buari and the judges will be Kunle Remi and Uraysha Ramrachia.

Somnath Malakar, CEO for sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands at ZEE Africa, said: “Knowing full well how Zee World is important to the family entertainment needs in Nigeria, we have taken steps to ensure that we would always deliver. There is a deep love for Zee World among Nigerians and Zee World has become part of lifestyles. Introducing this show is one of our ways to thank Nigerians for all the love they have shown to us over the years. Nigerians are notable for their incredible dancing talents.

“We know that the economy is harsh and everyone is feeling it. Entertainment is one of the ways to lessen worries, provide an escape and make people happy. Zee World being an enabler of family happiness saw it fit to create something unique and electrifying.”

Remi said: “I am proud to be part of this show to mentor young talents, helping them tell stories with their bodies and ensuring that whatever is finally presented on stage is of high quality. These two cultures are known for using dance for storytelling. The highlight for me will be to see how the contestants will use their dance steps to tell entertaining stories that tickle both the judges and viewers at home.”

Dance Naija Dance will premiere in August in 52 countries in Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. It will air on Zee World on DStv channel 166 and Gotv channel 125.

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ViacomCBS adds Zee World to line-up

ViacomCBS Networks Africa (VCNA), the Johannesburg-based arm of the Hollywood studio, has expanded its offering by adding Indian broadcaster Zee World to its channel bouquet.

Strini Naicker

The move will take effect from March 1 and reinforces VCNA’s commitment to connecting brands to its audiences through platforms that offer authentic storytelling, exciting content and value for money.

According to VCNA, Zee World focuses on bringing people together, through culture, colour, fashion, dance, music, family values, tradition, spirituality, triumphs and lows, and this has contributed to the channel’s growth and success.

Strini Naicker, VP of commercial and content distribution at VCNA, said: “The environment in which VCNA operates necessitates a diverse, one-of-a-kind and adaptive approach to commercialisation, distribution, promotion and the incorporation of innovation in ensuring the success of our business. We are always open to new partnerships that will see us grow and continue to offer content that resonates with our audiences.

“Commercially, VCNA’s stakeholders and partners will now have an additional avenue and platform to promote their products and services. The programming contents on the Zee World channel are relatable and adapted to resonate with diversified consumers, which is what VCNA strives for on a daily basis.”

Craig Paterson, senior VP and general manager at VCNA, added: “Welcoming Zee World to our portfolio not only means a new audience, but it also delivers on some of our strategic objectives, to cater to a broader audience and live by our mantra of prioritising diversity and inclusion. This is an exciting partnership for the Africa business.”

Zee World claims to be the world’s first English-language dubbed Indian entertainment channel and the first in the world to customise fully by showcasing Bollywood movies and series as well as a variety of shows tailored for the African audience.

Its core audience are females and it reaches over 4.5 million households in South Africa.

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Temple, Zee strike partnership

Execs from both companies pictured after inking the deal

Lagos-based consulting agency The Temple Company and Mumbai-based TV producer Zee World have struck a partnership aimed at driving growth for Indo-Nigerian creative industries and bridging the divide between the two markets.

The deal, unveiled at The Temple Company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, means The Temple Company is now the official marketing partner/creative agency for Indian content giant Zee Entertainment Enterprises and will serve as its representative to interface with public-sector organisations looking to leverage its platforms to their advantage.

Idris Olorunnimbe, founder of The Temple Company, said the partnership aligned with the firm’s goal to foster cross-border collaboration that will ultimately help drive growth for Indo-Nigerian creative industries.

He said: “We were ready for this collaboration long ago. When we launched The Temple Company, we had our job cut out to attract strategic collaborations that would impact positively on the creative economies across territories. This new partnership with Zee Entertainment embodies these aspirations.

“We are excited at the promise this presents for sectoral growth. We look forward to the fruits that this partnership will produce. Time to get to work!”

Somnath Malakar, CEO of sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Islands at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, added: “We are certainly excited to partner with The Temple Company, which positions us to collaboratively unlock the opportunities presenting themselves in Nigeria, the biggest and fastest-growing television market in Africa.’’

Bollywood channel Zee World debuted on Nigerian television in February 2015 and has proved popular among Nigerian families. The channel commands a viewing share of up to one-fifth of the entire Nigerian pay TV landscape, according to Zee, and is now ranked as Nigeria’s most watched TV channel across all platforms.

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Mike Godson lands part in Indian series

Nollywood movie star Mike Godson has signed a deal with Bollywood producers to feature in an English-language TV series on Indian broadcaster Zee World.

Mike Godson

Godson, who will appear alongside stars from other African countries in the yet-to-be-revealed series, said: “I’m super excited because we are going to be telling those Indian love stories the African way. All the Zee World lovers, stay tuned.” He made the announcement via Instagram.

Godson has previously featured in movies such as Love Bond, The Chosen Child, The Prince & The Slave and 7 Books of Moses. He was named Best New Actor of the Year at the 2015 Classic Africa Merit Awards.

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Telemundo, Zee fire back at Okpala

Hispanic broadcaster Telemundo and Indian-owned channel Zee World have responded to recent accusations that they are flooding Nigeria with foreign programming.

Last month, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, veteran Nollywood actor Chika Okpala called out foreign TV networks for their role in pushing Nigerians to overlook indigenous TV drama in favour of foreign content.

Okpala cited Telemundo and Zee World by name and said Nigerian productions were “suffering” because of the growing popularity of shows supplied by these companies.

Content Nigeria contacted Telemundo and Zee World Nigeria to get their opinion on Okpala’s comments.

Daniel Modern, regional manager of Telemundo and Zee World Nigeria, said: “We came to Africa because we saw a need for rich content that would appeal to viewers. Telemundo and Zee World consistently air programmes that draw their audience in, from telenovelas to cookery shows.

“To address Okpala’s comment, I would say that the reason why viewers are drawn to our shows is because we offer them something they want. Most of our telenovelas are based on romance, family, culture and tradition and the everyday life drama, which is something that greatly appeals to our Nigerian audience,” he stated.

“Furthermore, I do not believe that our programmes cause a drop in the audience of Nigerian TV drama. Look at [Nigerian soap opera] Tinsel. That’s one TV drama that has rich content and a vast audience.”

Telemundo is a US TV network aimed at Spanish speakers and owned by cable group Comcast. It debuted on African pay platform DSTV in 2013. Some of the telenovelas it has aired since then include My Heart Beats For Lola, Aurora, Behind Closed Doors and Woman of Steel.

Zee World, meanwhile, is an Indian channel that launched on DSTV in 2015. Some of the TV dramas it has aired since include Krishi, Twist of Faith and Saloni.

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Mace, Zee unveil Indian format

Nigerian agency Mace Entertainment and broadcaster Zee World have held a press screening for Deceptive Measures, their Nigerian adaptation of an Indian scripted format.

Mike Godson

The show runs to 104 half-hour episodes and is the first local version of successful Indian drama Pavitra Rishta.

The cast and crew come from Nigeria and the show was shot in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.

The new show will star Nollywood actor Mike Godson who signed a deal with Bollywood producers last year to feature in an English-language TV series on Zee World, the South Africa-based Bollywood channel.

He later met Rani Rajesh, director of Spectrum Film in Indonesia, Ijeoma Onah, founder of NIFS and Manoj Jagtiani, Mace Entertainment’s CEO, and Deceptive Measures was launched.

The show will air soon but the exact date has not yet been announced.

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Zee World unveils show line-up

English-language Bollywood TV broadcaster Zee World has unveiled its programme line-up for the year.

Harish Goyal, CEO of Zee TV Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, told the content upfronts in Lagos that while some dramas will be returning, others will make their debuts on Zee channels.

Zee World has lined up drama series including Bride With Benefits, Begusarai, Amma, My Golden Home and Iron. Meanwhile, Twist of Fate and King of Hearts will be coming back for second seasons.

Zee BollyNova will offer a variety of shows, such as Look Love What You Made Me Do, Fear Files, Saloni and Destiny, with The Vow set to launch in May.

“We are really excited about the wide acceptance and appreciation of our programmes here in Nigeria and we keep improving our content to keep our viewers happy. This year, we would like to assure our viewers of world-class entertainment in line with Zee entertainment’s global offering. We have a line-up of exciting new programmes across all channels to bring you the best of Bollywood,” said Goyal.

Also on offer will be a variety of Indian pop music on Zee World’s BollyTunes.

Zee World is a South African-based English-Bollywood channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It has viewers in more than 173 countries and airs on DSTV channel 166 and GOtv Channel 25.

Zee BollyNova airs on Kwese TV and channel 150, while Zee BollyMovies airs on DSTV channel 114, GOtv Channel 12 and Kwese TV channel 155.

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Zebrudaya hits out at foreign TV

Veteran Nollywood actor Chika Okpala (fka Zebrudaya) has called out foreign TV networks like Telemundo and Zee World for causing Nigerian viewers to ignore indigenous content.

Chika Okpala

In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, Okpala shared his concerns over sitcoms produced in Nigeria and their lack of sponsorship.

“Foreign soaps, like Mexican ones, Telemundo, Zee World and the rest of them have flooded our TV screens and our indigenous TV drama series are suffering. Popular programmes The New Masquerade, Cockcrow at Dawn, The Village Headmaster and others were left to slip away,” said Okpala.

“The dwindling economy is the major problem for production in this country and lack of sponsorship has contributed to the death of programmes. Without the economy being vibrant, you cannot push programmes forward. People cannot do productions without it yielding something substantial to take care of their families.”

Okpala believes sponsorship is vital to producing top-notch TV drama, saying that most of the old sitcoms stopped airing because they lacked support from sponsors.

Foreign networks are not helping matters because they have drawn Nigerian viewers to them, he claimed, leaving very little viewership for the indigenous sitcoms still airing.

Okpala insisted that if local sitcoms are produced and sponsored it will support the livelihoods of many more people, which will boost the country’s economy.

Okpala is best known for his role in 1990s sitcom New Masquerade.

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