Zee to launch English film channel
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 15 March 2018

Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) is reportedly awaiting Government approval for another premium English-language movie channel.

If approved, the &flix channel would follow the launch last September of ZEEL's English-language independent movie channel &PrivéHD.

The new channel also plans to deliver premium content, but this time targeted towards a mass audience, with a film premiere every week, Ashish Sehgal, Zee Unimedia COO, told online publication Television Post.

"We are launching an English movie channel under the '&' umbrella. This brand was launched with a clear objective to connect with contemporary Indians, cater to urban, progressive, aspirational yet rooted mindset and content of international quality," Sehgal told Adgully.

Content for &flix could be drawn from ZEEL's existing distribution agreements with film studios including Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Paramount Pictures.

The output deal with SPT, agreed in October 2017, gives ZEEL first pay-TV access in India to Sony Pictures releases, including blockbusters such as SpiderMan: Homecoming, Blade Runner 2049, Baby Driver and Life.

&flix's sister channel &PrivéHD features critically acclaimed independent and niche films, in competition with other premium English film channels in India such as Star Movies Select and Sony Le Plex.