Zee Telugu

Infobox Network
network_name = Zee Telugu
network_
branding = Zee Network
country = India
network_type = cable television network
slogan =
available = India
owner = Zee Network
launch_date = May 18, 2005
founder =
key_people = | website = [http://www.zeetelugu.com/ www.zeetelugu.com]

Zee Telugu is a Telugu-language cable television channel in India. It is offered by Zee Network, part of the Essel Group.citation|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/special/y2k6/zee_tv.htm|periodical=IndianTelevision.com|date=2006-07-06|accessdate=2008-03-21|title=Zee Tele's stock soars on ratings upswing, future prospects|last=Das|first=Sibabrata]

By 2004, the Zee Network already had a strong presence in northern and eastern India, with channels in Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, and Punjabi; their proposed Telugu-language channel marked their first venture into the southern India entertainment market. In June 2004, they expected the channel to launch by August. [citation|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-21661427_ITM|title=Zee's Telugu channel likely in August|last=Kurmanath|first=K.V.|date=2004-06-15|accessdate=2008-03-21|periodical=Business Line] Their actual launch finally arrived in September.citation|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k5/dec/dec217.htm|periodical=IndianTelevision.com|date=2005-12-15|accessdate=2008-03-21|title= Zee Telugu identifies key properties; to launch telefilm band in January] They initially featured a large amount of American films dubbed into Telugu; in August 2005, they also dubbed popular Bollywood film "Sholay" from Hindi into Telugu as an experiment. [citation|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/27/stories/2005082702000200.htm|periodical=The Hindu|date=2005-08-27|accessdate=2008-03-21|title= Get set for Sholay in Telugu]

By December 2005, despite having some popular programmes such as game show "Gold Rush", hosted by popular female anchor Udayabhanu, as well as soap opera "Nishabdam", overall Zee Telugu had only achieved a 1.24% weekday and 1.86% weekend market share in Andhra Pradesh. As a result, they re-launched themselves in order to shift their target market segment from mass market to that of upwardly mobile young professionals. [citation|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/07/02/stories/2005070202820400.htm|periodical=The Hindu|date=2005-07-02|accessdate=2008-03-21|title=Get set for 'Gold Rush'|last=Singh|first=T. Lalith] They suffered a loss of Rs. 460 million in fiscal year 2005.

In late 2006, Zee Telugu began work on "Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa", a Telugu-language singing competition. Anchored by Nandi Award winner Suneetha, the judges panel included renowned Telugu music figures Koti and Ramana Gogula, and was scheduled to run for 35 episodes. [citation|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/10/31/stories/2006103100630300.htm|date=2006-10-31|accessdate=2008-03-21|periodical=The Hindu|title=A talent hunt for singers] The show was so successful that by February 2007, they announced plans to launch "Little Champs", a version of the show aimed at the ages six to thirteen market, hosted by former "Indian Idol" runner up N. C. Karunya. [citation|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/20/stories/2007022004080200.htm|periodical=The Hindu|date=2007-02-20|accessdate=2008-03-21|title= It's 'no acting, only singing' for Karunya; To anchor a music show on a Telugu television channel soon]

In September 2007, the channel announced after months of deliberations that Sanjay Reddy would be their new chief executive officer, succeeding Ajay Kumar, who had left several months previously. Reddy had previously worked at The Walt Disney Company and Pearl Media. [citation|periodical=The Hindu|date=2007-09-17|accessdate=2008-03-21|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/17/stories/2007091758230200.htm|title=Zee Telugu has a new CEO out of the box|last=Singh|first=T. Lalith] Reddy's plan in 2008 includes new soaps and children's programming. [cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/14/stories/2008011458020200.htm |title=Zee Telugu on a roll out of the box |publisher="The Hindu" |date=2008-01-04 |first=T.L. |last=Singh |accessdate=2008-03-20]

The internet TV company, WatchIndia.TV, announced in 15 March, 2008, that it had launched Zee Telugu on WatchInida.TV to connecting the U.S.-based Indian diaspora with culture, entertainment, and news programming that includes "SaReGaMaPa 2008 Voice of Youth" and the TV celebrity dance competition, "AATA". [cite news |url=http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85272&Itemid=9|title=Zee Bangla and Zee Telugu on WatchIndia.TV |publisher=pr-usa.net |date=2008-03-15 |first=Karen |last=Kalina |accessdate=2008-03-21]

References

External links

* [http://www.zeetelugu.com/ Official site]