The world’s largest South Asian TV Network - ZEE Network - will be increasing its reach to UK wide audiences with the launch of two more of its channels, Zing and Zee Café, on Virgin Media from 1st May 2013.

By popular demand, UK’s no 1 Asian Lifestyle Channel Zing will now be available to enjoy on the platform on Channel 813. Zing is the one-stop for all round complete entertainment. With local shows, Bollywood entertainment, Hollywood insights, movies, music, drama, reality shows and more, it covers an innovative blend of programmes that make it unique in the British Asian space. The channel aims to go where its audience is, across multiple platforms, including millions of Virgin Media homes, Sky, Freesat, Yamgo Mobile, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.

Virgin Media viewers will now be able to catch the UK’s first ever British Asian drama Cloud 9 on Zing, Mon-Fri 6:30pm & 10:30pm. Setting a record in the South Asian Entertainment space, Cloud 9 is an English drama series. The series highlights various aspects that make a special town called ‘Cloud 9’, showcasing the important British Asian values of family life, aspirations, tradition and modernity.

Zee Café will be available to watch on Channel 811, catering to the entire family’s entertainment needs, boasting a mix of entertainment for everyone, including soaps, historic dramas, mythology, news, lifestyle, horror, cookery, movies and business.

Both channels will be making high quality content available to Virgin Media’s Pay TV subscribers and will be an addition to ZEE’s subscription channels already on Virgin Media’s Asian Mela Pack: Zee TV, Zee Cinema and Zee Punjabi.

Archana Kanade, Business Head - Free-To-Air Channels, “ZEE has a plethora of quality content with an appeal to a wide range of audience groups and in formats not available on other stations. We are delighted that South Asians watching via Virgin Media will now have access to the full offering of ZEE Network in the UK with the addition of the fast-paced glamorous programming of Zing and the all-time favourite soaps of Zee Café.”

For the latest ZEE updates and the chance to get involved and win goodies, visit www.zeetv.co.uk.

Holi, the festival of colours, will come to life on channel Zing’s drama series Cloud 9. Join in the fun as the series celebrates Holi in true British-Asian style on Wednesday 27 March at 6:30pm and 10:30pm, Zing.

The series will see gentle tones of family relationships plus drama highlighted as it presents the celebration from different view-points of the various characters of the show. Bright colours, rangoli, bhang, laughter, family, friends – all the fun and colourful aspects of Asian culture will be enjoyed in the Holi special episode.

Workaholic Simran who has recently recovered from a health-scare will be seen sharing her gratitude and appreciation for life and for the support of her family and friends with a pooja at her home. Carefree lad Johnny will see his strained relationship with his grand-mother improving with the fun of the festival as he his persuaded to explore a bit more about his culture. Meanwhile, the other youngsters of the town Cloud 9 – Archy, Peter, Harri, Ben – are seen joining in on the festivities and enjoying the colours and the traditional beverage bhang! But wait to see what effect the bhang can have as the celebration turns to drama and the relationships of the characters takes a twist!

Archana Kanade, Zing Business Head: “Cloud 9 is a British-Asian drama series – which balances the cultural values of Brit-Asians with their Western lifestyle. Family, festivities, culture, religion are an important part of Brit-Asian life but how they are understood and celebrated in the UK is unique. We would like to see the viewers joining in on this celebration of Brit-Asian culture!”

Tune in to the series Monday to Friday 6:30pm and 10:30pm and enjoy the Holi Special on Wednesday 27 March – only on Zing, free on Sky 789 and Freesat 509.

For your chance to visit the sets of the Holi special episode follow Zing TV UK on Facebook and Twitter. Also send through your feedback on the series via a survey at www.zingtv.co.uk

4 March: It’s going to be one dramatic week on Cloud 9!

- Another woman in Ajay’s life turns up to his flat, but who is she?!

- Will Simran go with Raj to what could become a romantic getaway or does she stay behind?

- Ajay is given the task by Johnny to find the key. Will he find it or something else?!

- Mr Singh is confronted by a long lost relative.  Needless to say, he’s not too pleased with the sudden arrival

Mon-Fri 6:30pm & 10:30pm on Zing - free on Sky 789 & Freesat 509.

This week on Cloud 9…

- Simran isn’t happy about finding out Ajay is leaving Cloud 9.

- Raj promises Simran that he will pay Ajay a visit to make sure he stays…

- Ajay finds a picture that completely threatens his friendship with Ben. What could it be?

- Johnny and Eddie attempt to get hold of the key to the box from Ben.

- Nisha’s ex-husbands mother comes in to visit - how does Johnny handle the situation?

- Raj invites Simran away on a trip, will Simran accept?

…Tune in Mon-Fri 6:30pm & 10:30pm on Zing - free on Sky 789 & Freesat 509.

Party is over and things are looking a bit more serious on Cloud 9 this week (18-22 Feb)…

- The morning after the party, Ajay wakes up in Johnny’s bed!
- He feels awful about and how he will face Nisha
- He doesn’t know how he can stay somewhere he’s not wanted – will he leave Cloud 9?
- Simran has an argument with Raj – who is it about?
- Nisha is not happy with Simran for lieing to her
- Mr and Mrs Singh reveal a deep dark secret about their past

Mon-Fri 6:30pm & 10:30pm on Zing - FREE on Sky 789 & Freesat 509.

Zing’s British Drama Series Cloud 9 celebrates Valentine’s Day in style! Catch the action and guest star appearances from celebrities in this week’s episodes, between 11-15 February.

The series will be hitting the high points as it steers closer on the relationship between Ajay, Simran and Raj. When naive Ajay arrives in Cloud 9, he is hit with the reality of life - he has to get a job and make a living.  There is a glimmer of hope as he meets Simran – a mature career-minded girl whose closest friends are hip-mum, Nisha (played by Niki Walia) and sensitive guy Dr Raj. Cloud 9 follows the lives of Ajay, Simran and the other residents of Cloud 9 as they embark on their own journeys.

The Valentine’s Special week on Cloud 9 will see surprises and revelations! Nisha holds a Valentine’s Day Party, which spoils Raj’s plans to go away alone with Simran, whilst shy guy Ajay builds up the confidence to make advances on his love for Simran - but does he succeed?

Ajay attends Nisha’s glamorous party and is constantly being sidelined.  He gets tipsy and reveals some very interesting things!  This is Ajay like we haven’t seen him before.

Meanwhile Nisha’s son Johnny and his friend Eddie go on a double-date. Johnny is jealous when he finds out that Eddie’s girlfriend, Deepti - the girl his mother tried to set him up with, is incredibly attractive! The bickering Singhs also go on a romantic date, but do they still love each other?

Valmike Rampersad who plays Ajay in Cloud 9 tells us more: “Ajay is finally gaining more confidence as he learns how to deal with life’s daily struggles. His interactions with Simran and some of the other residents help bring him out of his shell. He is distracted and seems to have forgotten his real purpose for being in Cloud 9, which is to get a job and prove that he can make a life of his own.  Will he get back on track and find himself in Cloud 9? Will he and Simran progress? Where does Raj fit in? Valentine’s day will open up a whole new can of drama.”

The series will feature special appearances by UK singer-songwriter Navin Kundra and English journalist and TV presenter Tasmin Lucia-Khan. Watch out for all the drama on Cloud 9 – Mon-Fri 6:30pm and 10:30pm, with the Omnibus on Saturdays 5:30pm – free on Zing, Sky 789 and Freesat 509.

Navin Kundra: “Working with the cast and crew of Cloud 9 was a great experience!  It was fun to be amongst the buzz, the hard work and all the talent on the sets and I really enjoyed working with Niki Walia, whom I have been a fan of ever since her role in Astitva.  Zing is doing a great job in taking this initiative to start something that was missing in the Asian entertainment scene and I am very supportive.  I hope you all enjoy my guest appearance in the Valentine’s Special episode on Friday 15 February,  and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story develops.”

The Cloud 9 team will also be making an appearance alongside Navin Kundra at the V5 Zing Bollywood Night – Valentine’s Special at Venue 5 Bar and Restaurant, London, on Friday 15 February. For your chance to WIN tickets to the night visit www.zingtv.co.uk.

Here’s what’s happening on Cloud 9 this week 4-8 Feb on Zing:

- Ajay and Simran spend time together with Ajay practising Johnny’s techniques for his confidence!

- Ben, Harri and Peter find a Red security box with lots of jewellery!

- Ajay has to make it up to Johnny about why he missed the date

- Nisha wants to know all about Simran’s date that she didn’t go to

- Find out if Simran arranges for an evening with Ajay or Raj towards the end of the week!

Watch Mon-Fri 6:30pm & 10:30pm on Zing - FREE on Sky 789 & Freesat 509.

ZEE always puts its viewers first! Yet another proof of this is the launch of a new service called Zee Dil Se, a messaging service for anyone to be on TV and convey their message Dil Se (from the heart) through www.ZeeDilSe.com . ZEE Network’s European arm has been entertaining audiences for over 18 years and is proud to bring in a one-of-a-kind service that will bridge the gap between the viewer and the TV screen allowing everyone to be on TV from the comfort of their homes!

Zee Dil Se is a premium service based on the concept that there is a star in everyone and everyone has something to say or share with their loved ones. For the first time ever in the UK, viewers will be able to make the journey to the other side of the TV screen and say something from their heart. A short 15 seconds video can give one their 15 seconds of Fame on Zee TV!

Zee Dil Se is a unique service that has been especially crafted for thousands of people who want to say something special in the most special way. It has been created so that one can personalise their wishes for anyone they want, and ZEE will bring the message to life by bringing it on TV on the date selected by the viewer! The process is simple and can be done in just a few minutes in three easy steps.

Step 1: Pick an occasion and a date the message should appear on Zee TV.

Step 2: Upload or Record a 15 seconds video using our in-built customised video recorder.

Step 3: Review, Submit and Pay for the video to watch it come to life.

Now, one can gift their loved ones something that will make them smile, cry and laugh - friends, parents, sister, brother, nephew, niece, anyone you want, no matter where they are and no matter what the occasion is… holidays, special occasion, or just because you feel like saying “I miss you,” or “I love you.”

Parul Goel, Deputy Territory Head, ZEE Europe said, “In this month of love and celebrations we wanted to give our viewers a platform to share life’s best moments with all their loved ones. Whether it is a proposal or simply a message of love, Zee Dil Se will allow our viewers to easily record their personalised video message with just a few clicks through their desktop or a laptop with a webcam. One doesn’t need to be a professional videographer or have complex editing tools to be on TV. As long as the video and sound are clear and the content is not explicit and against our terms and conditions, we will broadcast it on Zee TV. We would like to invite everyone to try the service for FREE and share the excitement of being on Zee TV with everyone. We are dedicated to enhancing our viewer experience and Zee Dil Se is a priceless experience that will engage with them. We have some exciting plans for the future of Zee Dil Se with the launch of mobile and Facebook apps launching very soon along with taking the service global for viewers in UK and mainland Europe to send messages to their friends and family in USA and vice-versa.”

Users will have the option to record a 15 seconds video through their HD webcams or upload a video recorded on their video handycams or smartphones along with selecting a date a minimum of 7 days ahead. The videos once submitted will be reviewed for technical and content quality and then scheduled for broadcast on Zee TV. The user will be informed and updated about the progress of the video throughout the process via email. If the video is rejected, the user will have many opportunities to improve and re-record their video submissions until Zee TV confirms the date and time of broadcast of the message. Users will also be able to share their videos on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Email to announce their moment of fame on Zee TV.

Many celebrities including Shahrukh Khan, Sri Devi, Deepika Padukone and many more have already tried the service and Zee TV viewers will be able to see these on their TV screens over the course of coming weeks.

Zee Dil Se is now live and FREE as part of an interim trial period for everyone to sample this exciting service at www.zeedilse.com (normally £49.99/€59.99 per video message). Users can submit their Valentine messages on www.zeedilse.com before 8^th February for the video message to appear on Zee TV on 14^th February.

With the completion of its first two weeks of airing Cloud 9, Zing has once again proved that it is a step-ahead of other South-Asian broadcasters in the UK in working towards creating a new connection with today’s British Asians. Based on the initial feedback received from young British Asians in the UK, the key factor that appeals to them about Cloud 9 is that they can relate with the characters because they display elements to which they can easily connect.

The English drama, which started on Monday 7^th January 2013, boasts of a brilliant star cast, who celebrated the launch of the show together on its first day, including the crew and Rishi Rich, who has composed and produced Cloud 9’s soundtrack. Whilst some faces are familiar, including Niki Walia (Dr. Simran from Zee TV’s Hit drama ‘Astitva’) and Omar Khan who has appeared in Bollywood Movies, most of the artists are fresh faces in the South-Asian media space and they fit perfectly well with the characters portrayed in the show.

There is something for everyone on this show as it has been designed to meet the needs of various audiences across the day. Though it is still in its early stages, the trend of the ratings of the series show that the original episodes are delivering a good audience at 18:30 hours. The telecast at 22:30 hours has shown an increase in the slot ratings by 158% (compared to previous four week average ratings). The show is attracting a high percentage of young viewers aged 16-34 years, which is already a strong target audience for Zing and is developing well.

Archana Kanade, Zing Business Head, “Zing is going from strength to strength over the last few months. At the end of December, ratings were up by 168% vs. the previous 3 months. Despite the fact that Zing is a lifestyle channel, we have observed that in certain time slots in the day, Zing’s ratings are better than the viewership of other GEC channels. This growth has been spear-headed by the channel’s fast and relevant content. It’s innovative flair has led to the creation of Cloud 9, which is a local drama series designed directly for the viewer. With this move, Zing has ventured into a whole new territory – possibly one that the viewer would have expected from a GEC channel, but it has not been the case so far.”

Rishi Rich, Producer-Composer and pioneer of Indian-R&B fusion music in the UK, has worked on the soundtrack of Cloud 9, composing it and singing it for the first time. He says, “When I was approached to work on the music score and theme tune for Cloud 9, I was very excited because finally there was going to be a UK soap on TV for British Asians. When I actually sat down to compose the theme tune, I really enjoyed working on it as well as singing it. It was a great opportunity to showcase myself as a musician.”

Valmike Rampersad, Lead Actor in Cloud 9-Ajay, “It is great to hear that so many Brit-Asians are following the show and the support has been brilliant. We hope that everyone can relate to at least one of the characters in some way.  The show really is unique in that not only is it the first British Asian drama to be UK produced, but it also doesn’t rely on the stereotypical roles that Asians are often associated with - cab drivers, etc. The whole show could easily be done by a different ethnicity as the story lines are universal. No terrorist plots here! Just some very real stories being told by a passionate cast and crew.”

See what is happening on Cloud 9, every Mon-Fri at 6:30pm; repeats at 10:30pm, 10:30am and 4:30pm, with the Omnibus on Saturdays at 5.30pm, only on Zing – free on Sky 789 and Freesat 509. Next week, Ajay and Simran are both set up on separate dates, but see what destiny has in store for them! For the latest on the channel, follow Zing TV UK on Facebook and twitter.

Here is all that you can catch on the Cloud 9 Omnibus for this week on Saturday 19 January at 5:30pm on Zing!

• Simran struggles in deciding how to move forward in life
• Ajay finally gets a job interview which no one else believes in
• Harri and Peter make an attempt at the heist
• Nisha tries to set Johnny up on a date with her colleague’s daughter
• Johnny faces trouble at work when he isn’t getting paid