India’s ZEE sets up prodco in Canada

Indian content company Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) has set up a production company in Canada.

The creation of ZEE Studios International marks ZEE as the first Indian broadcaster to set up a production company in North America, the company claims.

ZEE Studios will create global content and formats for international markets in their local languages, many of which will be based on successful Indian ideas and concepts.

The prodco will initially focus on developing content for television and digital platforms as well as original formats and homegrown remakes, with a plan to venture into film production at a later stage.

Content developed by the prodco will encompass a wide portfolio scripted and unscripted formats across an array of genres, ranging from reality, game and dance shows to shows in the fictional crime drama, sitcom, sci-fi, horror and paranormal spaces.

ZEE Studios is based in Vancouver, and will be headed by Subhadarshi Tripathy, who will be supported by a local team. Tripathy will jointly report to ZEE’s CEO of international broadcasting, Amit Goenka, and ZEE managing director and CEO Punit Misra.

Amit Goenka (pictured) said: “In line with our corporate philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World Is My Family’, ZEE has always been a cultural ambassador of India, taking its rich and engaging content across the world. In yet another major milestone, we are now set to launch our production company, ZEE Studios International, in Canada.

“Canada is known as a large production hub for various Hollywood companies, as the country offers the requisite infrastructure, talent pool, scenic locales as well as a favourable Government incentive scheme.”