ZEE & STAR COLLABORATE IN A BID TO STYMIE SONY

Star TV and Zee TV worked out a deal in late September to jointly promote their programmes on each others' channels in a bid to divert viewer attention from a blockbuster Hindi film which was being aired on rival entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television. While Zee TV carried promos for a Hindi film, which was being telecast on Star Plus simultaneously with the Sony film, the Star TV channels promoted soaps and series being shown on the Zee TV bouquet.

Industry sources are not sure whether the move managed to wean away viewers from the Sony film 'Rangeela' to 'Yes Boss', which was shown on Star Plus on 26 September. But the joint promotion fuelled speculation that both Star TV and Zee TV had finally come to an agreement on a merger. Both networks, however, insist that the promotion was a one-time affair.