Zee Network launch Zee Next, presenting same content in new style

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) It seems to be the season of new channels on the General Entertainment scene! After the launch of INX channel, NDTV Metro and NDTV Good Times, Zee Network has announced the launch of its new channel 'Zee Next'.

Going on air on December 17 with five new shows running across diverse genres, Zee Next is an attempt to provide something refreshing to the audiences by presenting the same stories and concepts in an altogether new style.

Addressing a press meet in the capital last night, Zee Next's Business Head and network Operating Officer Punit Goenka said, ''though the primary target audience of Zee Next, the second GEC offering from Zee Network, is the same as Zee TV, the attempt will be to present the same stories and concepts that we have shown on Zee all these years in an altogether different style.'' Mr Goenka said the launch of Zee Next was an offshoot of the realisation by the network that audience tastes were continuously evolving.

''Zee started operations 15 years ago. For many years, we remained on the number one slot. Then, somewhere down the line, we forgot that our audiences keep on evolving, growing up and changing.

Consequently, we first slipped to the number two and then to number three,'' he said.

''Though, now we have regained the number two slot and moving towards winning back the top positions, we feel that the process of change is an ongoing one and, if we do not continue the process of change, we will lag behind,'' Mr Goenka added.

Tarun Mehra, the operating head of Zee next, said, ''We have found through research that the choice of today's audiences has become quite wide. For example, in a single household, one has audiences who want to watch characters like Vidya and Saloni while at the same time there are others who want to show stories related in a different style. So, with Zee Next, we are trying to cater to the wide choice of the audience.'' The channel will showcase a wide array of lives of individuals from an outdoor perspective and will host genres ranging from thrillers to comedy, reality fiction and action amongst others, he said.

In keeping with this philosophy, the launch of the channel will coincide with the airing of five new shows 'Ek Thi Raj Kumari', 'Jhoome Jiya Re', 'Yahaan Ke Hum Sikander', 'Pyar Ishq Mohabbat' and 'Simpllly Sapney'.

The shows will be produced by leading TV production houses like DJ's ('Banegi Apni Baat' and 'Jassi Jaisi koi Nahin'), BAG films, Cinevestas and actor Milin Soman's Face productions.

UNI