One on one with Zee TV CEO Harish Goyal

FEVER: Please can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Harish: I was brought on board the ZEE group in August 2014 to spearhead ZEE’s strategic vision of strengthening its position in emerging markets with an aspiration to achieve better and continued higher growth for the Africa and Indian Ocean Island territory. I am responsible for growing the company’s profitability through new product launches and driving revenues in SA and exploring and seeding other markets in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.

I come with more than 20 years of rich experience and cross culture exposure from managing businesses across over 60 countries, driving new business initiatives, strategic partnerships and distribution network management from varied sectors. With a degree in Electronics Engineering combined with a Masters in International Trade from (IIFT) India, I worked across Telecom Infrastructure, Consumer Durable, Energy, Electronics industries with companies like Indus Towers Ltd., Times Innovative Media Ltd., Bharti Airtel Group

FEVER: Can you tell our readers a little history on Zee TV? (When was it created and why)

Harish: Zee is the world’s largest Indian content aggregator, with over 70 channels nationally and internationally. It was the first private satellite channel to be launched in India. Africa was the first international market Zee TV forayed into in 1996 and has been present on the largest DTH platform on the continent. Zee TV is the only Indian Hindi General Entertainment category broadcaster that has a local presence with offices in South Africa and Mauritius.

Over the years ZEE has evolved to become the undisputed market leader in the Bollywood General Entertainment category segment, through our world class programming and market strategies.

FEVER: The Fever newspapers has a mixed audience in terms of race and LSM, can you tell me how does Zee TV cater for this?

Harish: ZEE has two channels in South Africa, ZEE TV and Zee World. While ZEE TV caters to the Indian diaspora ZEE WORLD is the English dubbed channel catering to mainstream audiences of all races. Both channels have a wide appeal not only in South Africa, but in the continent as a whole

FEVER: What makes Zee TV different from other channels?

Harish: ZEE TV was the first Indian channel with a dedicated feed for Africa. The channel has English subtitles and is broadcast within 24 hours from India.

ZEE TV is the only Indian channel with a full service local office in South Africa, giving us a unique advantage to know our audiences and bring programming that resonates with them. The stories are traditional, instilling good family values.

FEVER: What can our readers look forward to this year?

Harish: ZEE TV has four new shows which will launch during the course of this year. We bring one of the best comedies to town from 9 March with ‘Bhabhiji Ghar pe Hai?’ at 6pm. The other shows to look forward to are ‘Satya ki Kiran’, ‘Radha Krishn’ and a brand new second season of ‘Fear Files’.

Zee World throughout the year has great programming coming to the viewers, with series like ‘East Meets West’ starting 28 April at 9pm and two new food shows ‘3 Course with Pankaj’ which plays Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5pm and ‘Healthy but Tasty’ with chef Ranveer Brar on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5.30pm.

May 15 sees the launch of a great show called ‘Love…look what you made me do’ at 7pm. It’s fresh and different and will have the streets buzzing! The new reality show deals with love and just how crazy things can get when a relationship doesn’t work out. It’s a must see for all.

FEVER: There is a little notion that ZEE TV is an “Indian channel”, how can we change this mindset of people?

Harish: Zee World is a mainstream channel with 85% mainstream viewers and a large number of black female viewers.

It is fast paced due to its customisation, adaptations and English dubbing which has been specially created for our mainstream audiences.