Zee plans wider global footprint

To make Zee Telefilms a global broadcasting network, its chairman Subhash Chandra will launch channels in various languages across the globe.

Chandra's Zee Telefilms is all set to launch a Russian entertainment channel in Russia and a local language news channel in Indonesia. This is the first attempt by an Indian broadcaster to launch entertainment channels in an international market in the local language.

Indian news channels like Star News, Aaj Tak and NDTV have launched international versions in markets like West Asia and Europe. NDTV recently entered into a joint venture with Astro Networks to launch news channels in Indonesia and it is also expected to launch news channels in Malaysia.

"India does not have a global broadcasting venture. It is time we started to think global in the entertainment business, too. Zee as a broadcaster will be offering content to an international audience. We will be launching more international channels," Chandra said today.

Two years ago, Chandra had announced Zee Telefilms was taking steps to become a global network, broadcasting across continents and in different languages.

"Since then, we have been taking gradual steps in this direction. We have launched a news channel in English from Dubai aimed at the Commonwealth nations," he said.