ZEE Network’s Zing comes off Virgin Media

ZEE Network’s lifestyle and music channel, Zing has been removed from the Virgin Media line-up.

There has been uncertainty surrounding the future of the channel on Virgin Media since news emerged about Colors launching this week. Insiders have said Virgin Media was not keen on Zing being sold as part of it’s Asian Mela bouquet when it is available free-to-air on rival, Sky Digital. The same applies to B4U Music.

ZEE Network and Virgin Media refused to comment on the rumours saying that the decision was “a mutual agreement between both parties”. ZEE Network further added that the removal was “temporary” and it may re-launch on Virgin once mutually beneficial terms have been agreed.

ZEE Network’s focus remains on maximising Zing�۪s burgeoning advertising revenue. Over the past two years, Zing has grown from strength to strength, more than doubling its ratings and correspondingly its mainstream as well as ethnic advertising revenues.

With this news, Zing will continue free-to-air on Sky Digital and Freesat only.

Virgin Media has been reviewing it’s channels to ramp up subscriber numbers especially amongst international channel viewers. With this in mind, Colors will be the first to launch as part of the newly rebranded package, Asian Mela. Other TV channels are also expected to join Virgin Media in the coming months. Imagine Dil Se and Sunrise TV may launch on Virgin’s new Tivo service.