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MUMBAI:
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) is launching a movie
channel specifically for the Middle East market as part of
its strategy to expand its international presence.
Zee
Aflam will be a free-to-air (FTA) channel telecasting Hindi
movies with Arabic subtitles. "We plan to launch in June
and be available in all the distribution platforms in the
Middle East as it is a FTA channel. The Hindi movies will
be shown with Arabic subtitles. For the English movies, we
have taken only the India rights and so won't be showing them
on Zee Aflam. We hope to tap the local advertising market
there," says a source in the company.
Zee
has discontinued the service of Zee Arabia, a music and lifestyle
channel targeted for the Middle East region. But Zee TV, the
group's flagship Hindi general entertainment channel, is available
in the Middle East.
In
China, Zee has applied for landing rights and is awaiting
clearance. "We have already started content syndication
to local networks in China, but in a small way. If we get
the landing rights, it will help us expand in that market,"
says the source.
Zee
TV is being made available in Russia with dubbed content in
the local language.
In
the US, Zee has launched its sports channel Zee Sports on
EchoStar. "We are looking at expanding our international
business in several territories and through different options,"
says the source.
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