The year 1992 ushered in an upheaval of sorts in the country. With the political, social and economic landscape changing facades, an upsurge in the world of media and entertainment was waiting to burst open. An upsurge that would resculpt social drifts and impart new meaning to TV viewing in India. Subhash Chandra, one of India's leading entrepreneurs, who sought to create a revolution by facilitating the convergence of media and communication with a mirror into the common man's life and ways, created Zee Telefilms Limited in October 1992. This enterprise was to act as the chief content provider for Zee TV - India's first Hindi satellite channel. Zee Telefilms Limited (ZTL) is now known as Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE).

Very early in the aftermath of launching ZTL, Subhash Chandra entered into a joint venture with the STAR group of companies. This pact was to augment television broadcasting in India and deliver higher quality of programming content. In another development around the same time, media mogul, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Limited acquired the rights to distribute STAR's satellite TV content. This made News Corp a de facto partner of ZEE. To strengthen their network further, ZEE and News Corp co-founded Siticable, a leading cable MSO. In March 2000 however, ZEE bought News Corp's stake in both the broadcasting business and Siticable.

ZEE, over the years has built a diverse portfolio of leading businesses and has driven initiatives that increase efficiency at every juncture of development. ZEE has established a very strong consumer connect and is governed by a set of values that holds them in good stead in the face of changing viewer environments.

Key Milestones

2012

Launches Ditto TV - India's first and only OTT (Over-The-Top TV) Distribution Platform
Launches Ten Golf – India's first and exclusive 24 hour Golf channel
Launches ZeeQ - India's first Kids Edutainment Channel
Launches Zee Alwan – Dedicated 24 Hour Arabic Channel

2011

ZEE's distribution arm, Zee-Turner Ltd, enters into a 50:50 JV with Star Den Media Services Pvt. Ltd. to form MediaPro Enterprise India Pvt. Ltd.
Announces share buyback for an aggregate expendable amount not exceeding 7,000 million.

2010

Launches Zee Khana Khazana – India's first 24-hour food channel.
Launches Zee Salaam - India's first Urdu infotainment satellite television channel
Acquires stake in Ten Sports.
Launches Ten Cricket - a dedicated 24-hour Cricket Channel.
Launches Ten Action+ - sports channel showcasing the best football action from around the world.
Launches India.com - Joint Venture between Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and Mail.com Media Corporation

2007

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) gets listed as an independent company.

2006

De-merger of Zee Telefilms Limited.

2003

Launches 5 new channels for the DTH market viz. Action cinema, Classic cinema, MX, Premier cinema and Smile TV.
Enters into a distribution tie-up with Rajshri Pictures for theatrical distribution of films in India.
Launches 'Trendz' - A premium fashion and style channel, targeted at the fashion conscious Indian consumer.

2002

Acquires controlling stakes in ETC Networks Limited and Padmalaya Telefilms Limited.

2001

Introduces Zee TV and Zee News as pay television offerings.
'Gadar - Ek Prem Katha' became highest grossing box office movie.

2000

Launches Internet over Cable services - Becomes first cable company in India to do so.
Enters into content distribution joint ventures with MGM and Viacom.
Launches pay bouquet of channels in the Asian region.

1999

Acquires News Corp's 50% stake in joint ventures of their television broadcasting business tie-up.
Launches regional channels.

1998

Launches Zee TV in the US.
Institutes a prime award in the film segment called 'Zee Cine Awards'.

1997

Launches Zee Music (originally called Music Asia).

1996

Starts first cable channel in India - Siti Channel.
Launches Zee TV, Africa.

1995

Commences Siticable operations Joint Venture with News Corp.
Launches Zee News and Zee Cinema.
Zee TV goes global - launches Zee TV, UK

1992

Launches Zee TV
Initial Public Offering of Zee Telefilms Limited

Last Updated - March 19, 2013