ZEE TV drops matinees for 'original shows

In a bid to offer more original programming during the day and bring in newer audiences, ZEE TV has revamped its daytime schedule from September.

From next month, the midday movies (12pm), which have been a permanent fixture of ZEE TV's schedule since it began broadcasting in the UK twelve years ago, will be dropped to make way for more dramas and light entertainment.

Shaney Burney, Programme Controller of ZEE TV UK, explained the reason behind the move. "It's very simple, we have ZEE Cinema to watch movies and most of our subscribers are already viewing both the channels as it's in the package. We want to give our viewers more entertainment and more original by increasing two more serials that is 'Meri Doli Tere Angana' and 'Rakhi'. To give value for money there will be more serials in the afternoon from October."

Viewers are being given the choice of switching over to ZEE Cinema for movie content and to stay with ZEE TV for dramas and light entertainment during the day. The weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) midday and midnight movie bands will remain unchanged.

As reported exclusively on BizAsia.co.uk in June, ZEE TV will be bolstering its original output over the coming months. The primetime schedule between 18:00 to 23:00 already consists of all original shows. Last month saw the arrival of ZEE TV's first morning-only soap 'Meri Doli Tere Angna' being used as a weapon to garner more housewife eyeballs. This will be joined by 'Rakhi' and a slew of other new dramas in September and October.

Furthermore, the much talked about new children's strand 'Kidz Zone' also kicks off next month, which will be presented by ZEE TV's 'Lil Champs' Diwakar Sharma, Sanchita Bhattyacharya and Sameer Mohammed.

The daytime schedule will be as follows from Monday 3rd September:

11:00 Mamta
11:30 Khana Khazana
12:00 Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai
12:30 Teen Bahuraniyan
13:00 Maayka... Saath Zindagi Bhar Ka
13:30 Meri Doli Tere Angana
14:00 Rakhi... Ek Atoot Rishte Ki Dor
14:30 Rabba Ishq Na Hove (re-run)
Unchanged after 15:00 until..
17:00 Kid Zone-English Cartoons
17:30 Kid Zone-Akbar Birbal

'Rakhi' will also air at 23:00, Monday through to Thursday.

Updated: 19:46 on 16/08/07

Source:http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2007/08/zee _tv_drops_af.php

Why did Zee do this
i didn like this idea

I watch all Zee serials but i cant watch them now

...
i think they should stick with the old movies idea

^^ i no y did they, i also hate this idea

They are going toward this because most Indian women have nothing to do during 1-4 and only re-runs air on Sony and Star so Zee saw the opportunity to attract those women. I know this because when I go to India, I always get bored of watching all these re-runs from the day before or old shows!!