ZEE strengthens its footing in quality free-to-air entertainment

ZEE Network - the world’s largest South Asian TV Network – is set to launch a new channel unlike any other in its vast portfolio of channels. On 10^th June, ZEE Network will launch Lamhe – showcasing only the best of South-Asian entertainment, free, with classic Dramas, path-setting Bollywood Classics, plus lifestyle, travel, cookery and more.

Available to viewers free on Sky 798 and also available to watch on Virgin Media 811, Lamhe will give viewers the opportunity to view some of the most popular and award-winning shows in the history of South-Asian entertainment, including classics such as - Astitva, Amanat and Hasratein.

Targeted to the UK viewers, the channel identity plays on life’s simple and special moments, creating an emotional connect with the audience’s unique memories of their early UK life. The channel is aimed at people who simply love drama and want to watch critically-acclaimed shows and movies that have defined the landscape of South Asian television.

Lamhe will join Zing as the Network’s second free to air channel. While Zing caters to the younger viewers with Bollywood and Lifestyle content, Lamhe is committed to bring quality General Entertainment programming to its family audiences. Zing already leads the pack in its genre and Lamhe is all set to emulate that success.

Archana Kanade, Business Head - Free-To-Air Channels, “Lamhe is targeted at a different audience demographic than ZEE’s highly successful and established Premium channels. Lamhe represents the best drama content within the genre and we are confident that viewers will enjoy the opportunity to view these celebrated shows again. We endeavour to bring back memories of the time when Zee TV was the only channel enthralling viewers and Zee was their home away from home. With Lamhe, we want to gift our viewers an opportunity to experience those beautiful memories once again.”

So come... ‘Relive the magical moments’...relive the ‘Lamhe’ from 10^th June.

Watch out for more information and for the first look of the new channel from 3^rd June, as its on-air and ground campaign takes off.

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.

Archie has had to leave the boy’s flat and go back to uni leaving Ben devastated. But watch out for more changes in Ben’s life as he gets caught between his past and present very soon!

Stay tuned to Cloud 9 - Mon-Fri 6:30pm & 10:30pm on Zing, Sky 789.

Zing gives you a chance meet with Ali Zafar this Saturday at Cineworld, Feltham.

Watch out for his upcoming movie ‘Chasme Baddoor’ and ask him about it yourself! Enter NOW here: www.zingtv.co.uk

Zing, UK’s No. 1 Asian Lifestyle Channel, is proud to be supporting the Desi Dhamaka 2013 Live Concert – celebrating UK Asian talent.

For the first time ever - the event will see a collaboration of multi South Asian singers and artists perform live on the same platform, on 9^th March 2013 at the Hammersmith Apollo, London.

Performances on the night will see a line-up of internationally recognized Bollywood and Brit Asian sensations – including Imran Khan, Raghav, Mumzy Stranger, Tasha Tah, Arjun, Karan Pangali, Nafees, Raja Kasheef, Mohsin Abbas and many more. This will be a tie-up of talents – from singing to dancing – that crosses the South Asian ethnic boundaries and hails the UK Asian community as one.

Zing is committed to supporting UK Asian talent and is a set platform for British-Asian artists, with UK shows such as Rock The Vibe, Brit’s Bollywood and the latest - Cloud 9 – the UK’s first British-Asian drama series. The concert will see lead artists from Cloud 9 also make an appearance and show their support to the mix of Asian acts.

British Asian TV and film personality Asad Shan, who currently presents the UK’s only local Bollywood plus Hollywood show Brit’s Bollywood on Zing, will be seen hosting and front lining the night. He says, “I believe UK Asian Talents have finally got their calling in the market, we are making films, TV shows and talent is being utilised. So come and Join us for a smashing evening.”

Archana Kanade, Zing Business Head: “South Asians are the largest ethnic community in the UK and there is such a vast pool of talent amongst us. It is a case of encouraging it and giving it the right platforms to create awareness of Brit-Asian art and culture. Zing supports this endeavour to celebrate the variety and fusion of skills that the South Asian community has to offer.”

For your chance to win tickets to Desi Dhamaka 2013 visit 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.

UK’s No. 1 Asian Lifestyle Channel Zing will be strengthening its schedule this March, giving its audience more of what they want to watch.

Earlier this year, Zing launched the UK’s first British-Asian Drama Series, Cloud 9, giving viewers various slots to sample the new offering, making it easier for them to see it when convenient for them. Two months into the show with it now firmly established within the schedule, Zing will focus on the two main promoted slots at Mon-Fri 6:30pm and 10:30pm, whilst replacing the day-time sampling slots with Bollywood shows.

Continue to watch the story of Ajay as he finds himself through his struggles in his new town and see how the love story develops between him and Simran.

Also watch out for some new joiners on the show. Ajay’s younger sister Archie will soon be arriving at the boys’ flat, spending her university holidays there and keeping an eye on Ajay, much to his annoyance. Watch how this strong fiery girl changes the dynamics between the boys of Cloud 9, with Peter falling head over heels for this lady, whilst Harri sees her as his sister, and Ben is not very happy with a new boss of the house.

The coming episodes will also see Nisha’s ex-mother-in-law staying over. Nisha (played by Niki Walia) is more than happy to keep ties with her ailing relative but her son Johnny has his reasons to hate his father’s family. Watch out for a generational clash here but also a softness that lies behind this.

Valmike Rampersad who plays Ajay in Cloud 9: “Whilst I have played many diverse characters in mainstream and Indie media, this is my first role on an ethnic channel and the level of support I have had for Cloud 9 from my peers in the industry has been amazing. It’s promising to see that they have been following it and are liking the storyline. I am looking forward to seeing the story and my character develop further.”

Rakhee Thakrar who plays Cloud 9’s Simran: “I have loved playing Simran so far and I’m thoroughly enjoying the love triangle she has got herself caught up in. Working with talented and hard working Actors such as Valmike Rampersad and Niki Walia has been an absolute joy - bringing together both mainstream and ethnic experiences.”

Archana Kanade, Zing Business Head, “The show continues to be a rewarding experience and it is constantly evolving with the feedback of viewers;  there is no history to take learnings from but we surely are paving a path for others to learn from. We are proud that Zing has created history with this show but more importantly we are proud that we are able to take the risk and make a difference. We are also happy to be able to give an opportunity to British Asian actors, helping them pursue their talent, in a space where there is no such platform. It’s extremely impressive to see such fabulous actors, who otherwise go unnoticed.”

Also new to the Zing schedule this March is Life And Times of a Star - woven around the professional and personal highs and lows of stars and their journey in Bollywood. Watch it from 4^th March, Saturdays 6:30pm. Zing will also be increasing the window to its popular weekend shows Trendsetters, Two To Tango and Ten on Ten during the weekdays.

Watch out for various Competitions giving away tickets to the biggest upcoming events, coming this March exclusively with Zing on www.zingtv.co.uk

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.