A taste for Bollywood
Indian entertainment channel Zee joins up with satellite provider CTH for series, movies and more
CTH, one of Thailand’s leading satellite TV providers and Zee Entertainment Enterprise, a top Indian television media and entertainment company, recently launched Zee Nung, a new channel that screens Bollywood movies dubbed in Thai around the clock.
“I wonder how many of us watched ‘Chang Phuean Kaew’, also known as ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ in Indian and ‘Elephant My Partner’ in English, when it was shown here in 1973. It was India’s biggest hit back in 1971,” said CTH’s chief operating officer Nattawat Woranopakul, during the recent press conference.
“India’ film industry has changed immensely over the last four decades. I was amazed during the presentation by Zee Entertainment. I’d always thought of Indian movies as having two main characters who sang and hid behind trees. Today, though, Bollywood is on a par with Hollywood,” he added.
Four months ago Zee Entertainment conducted a survey about the popularity of Bollywood movies in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and was amazed at the response.
“There’s a huge demand for Bollywood films from Thai viewers. They love the content, the romance, action and family values. I believe that our Bollywood channel will do well here. This makes Thailand among the most important markets in Zee Entertainment Enteprise’s Asia Pacific expansion plans,” said Sushruta Samant, Asia-Pacific business head of Zee Entertainment. “I’m sure that in the long term, Zee Nung, will have its own personality and positioning.”
According to the National Statistical Office of Thailand, there are five million Indian people living in Thailand.
“But our research was based on Thai people only. So, it is an opportunity for us to be viewed by more than five million people. We are trying to tailor our programmes to a variety of groups who enjoy watching series and music, romantic and action movies, as well as cooking and travel shows,” says Nattawat.
Luk thung artist Ann Mitchai entertained participants at the press conference by singing “Ishk Actually”, a soundtrack of an Indian movie. She is currently starring in an Indian movie.
CTH subscribers can watch the Bollywood movies on Zee Nung on CTH 77 for free until June 15 as well as on smartphones through DTAC’s Watchever App until the end of July.
For more information, call 1619 and 1678.
