ZEE India to acquire Reliance TV business

The Board of Directors of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited has approved the acquisition of the General Entertainment Broadcasting Business Undertaking of Reliance Big Broadcasting Private Limited, Big Magic Limited & Azalia Broadcast Private Limited, all part of Anil Ambani led Reliance Group Entities through a scheme of demerger and execution of definitive agreements in relation to such proposed acquisition.

The TV Broadcasting business of Reliance Group Entities currently comprises two operational general entertainment channels – BIG Magic, BIG Ganga and four other TV licenses.

BIG Magic is a Comedy channel catering to Hindi Speaking Markets. BIG Ganga is a leading Bhojpuri entertainment channel catering to audiences in Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal. The channels are available on all major MSOs and DTH operators.

The General Entertainment TV Broadcasting business undertaking along with its assets, liabilities, licenses, trademarks etc. shall get demerged from “BIG Magic Ltd”, “Reliance Big Broadcasting Private Ltd” and “Azalia Broadcast Private Ltd” into ZEEL through a court- approved scheme.

Mr. Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL said, “We are pleased to announce this acquisition which further adds to our expanding universe of general entertainment channels. BIG Magic gives us access to comedy genre enhancing our customer offerings. BIG Ganga, a leading Bhojpuri channel syncs with our strategy of expanding into the regional markets which offers attractive growth potential. I am confident that these two channels will make the ZEE Network channels more enriching for the audience and for the Company.”

Mr. Sam Ghosh, ED and Group CEO, Reliance Capital said, “We are happy to divest 100 per cent of our general entertainment TV business to ZEE Entertainment. This transaction is part of our strategy to reduce exposure in non-core businesses and work towards further reducing debt under Reliance Capital.”