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Zee Network to set up HQ in Media City

DUBAI - Zee Network, a leading Indian film and entertainment network, announced yesterday that it would establish its headquarters for international operations at Dubai Media City (DMC).

The largest producer and aggregator of Hindi programming in the world, Zee, will invest Dh30 million in the initial phase of the new facility, which will be equipped with the most sophisticated infrastructure and state-of-the-art studios.

Following the signing of the formal agreement between Zee and Dubai Media City, Subhash Chandra, Chairman and Managing Director of Zee Telefilms Limited said: "Considering that Dubai is at the crossroads of the Middle East, Europe, Africa and South Asia, this move is strategic to Zee Network as it will help enhance reach to our international viewers."

"Zee Network would like to associate with Dubai Media City, which is rapidly emerging as a global media hub. DMC is not only providing us with a business-enabling infrastructure, but also a community of like-minded individuals and companies, with rich environment and networking opportunities," Mr Chandra added.

"DMC has always been keen to partner with leading international and regional media players who contribute to our vision of building a unique and specialised media cluster. We see our partnership with Zee Telefilms as a source to achieve this and at the same time enhance Zee's position of leadership in the global broadcast industry," said Ahmed bin Byat, Director-General of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone.

Welcoming the renowned film and entertainment network to the DMC community, Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City, said: "The presence of Zee Network within Dubai Media City further signifies the growth and diversity occurring in our broadcasting segment. It also contributes to our position as the biggest and fastest growing media hub in the region."

"We believe it is such synergies that foster and accelerate mutual success. Accordingly, we would like to extend our complete support to Zee, in their future business endeavours from the Dubai Media City,"he added.

With a bouquet of 21 satellite TV channels dispersed around the Indian subcontinent, the Zee Network enjoys an estimated reach of 6.5 million households, and a viewer-ship of 225 million people in over 80 countries. Zee Network will use the Dubai Media City facility for the play-out and up-linking of its International beams.

Dubai Media City houses today over 30 broadcasters operating more than 60 TV channels servicing the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, the Indian subcontinent, CIS countries and Europe.

Over a period of less than four years, DMC has succeeded in attracting leading regional and international broadcast names. This success has been primarily attributed to its state-of-the-art teleport facility, run by its sister concern SamaCom; a vertically integrated satellite services provider, with a self-owned and self-managed communication infrastructure.

Apart from the commercial benefits that include 100 per cent ownership of businesses and complete exemption of taxations and custom duties, broadcasters based at the DMC also benefit from their presence among a growing specialised media community comprising similar and complementing industries. They have immediate access to production and post-production companies, equipment manufacturers, system engineers, graphic designers and content producers. Moreover, being close to those in the related media sectors such as publishing, advertising, public relations, research, new media and music, allows for rich networking and channel marketing opportunities.

This partnership is not the first in relationship developments between Dubai Media City and Zee. In February this year, Zee Television's Cine Awards, the first Indian film awards ceremony hosted in Dubai, was held in association with the Dubai Media City. The four-hour event, having attracted nearly 300 film stars, producers and directors from Bollywood, was a spectacular success.