Leo India won big at the ongoing Goafest 2026 on Thursday evening, bagging the Digital Specialist Agency of the Year and Technology Specialist Agency of the Year awards.

On the second evening of the 2026 ABBY Awards, Leo India won in several categories, reiterating its position as the leading advertising and communications agency of the country.

The agency claimed the coveted Digital Specialist Agency of the Year award with 120 points, accrued through 24 medals which included a prestigious Grand Prix and a Gold.

The second position in the category went to Enormous, an independent agency, with 42 points, while McCann India finished third with 28 points.

Leo India was announced as the Technology Specialist Agency of the Year with a total of 54 points, followed by Mindshare Mumbai with 30 points and Perfetti Van Melle India with 12 points. Perfetti also bagged a Grand Prix, a rare achievement for them.

Meanwhile, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited was named the Broadcaster of the Year with 15 medals, including 3 Golds and 6 Silvers. These medals helped the leading media house accumulate 82 points.

JioStar India, a JV of Jio and Star India, finished second with 20 points.

Tribes Communications won the Public Relations Specialist Agency of the Year award with 50 points, followed by Leo India with 42 points.

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Mumbai, December 23^rd 2025: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (‘Z’), India’s leading Content and Technology Powerhouse, today announced the launch of Zee Immerse, a dedicated vertical focused on creating immersive, inclusive, and platform-agnostic branded Intellectual Properties (IPs). Designed for a new era of brand storytelling, Zee Immerse will develop bespoke content across long and short formats, digital-first narratives, regional storytelling, and multi-platform executions spanning television, digital, social, YouTube, and on-ground experiences.

The launch reflects a fundamental shift in how audiences connect with brands. What once began as exposure evolved into engagement, then experience and today, the next frontier is inclusion. Audiences no longer want to merely watch or interact; they want to belong, participate, and see themselves reflected in the stories brands tell.

Zee Immerse is built for this moment. It enables brands to co-create worlds where storytelling is not confined to a single screen but flows seamlessly across platforms, inviting audiences to become active participants in shaping cultural conversations.

Commenting on the launch, Laxmi Shetty, Head – Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said, “Brands today are looking beyond visibility and metrics. They are seeking relevance, resonance, and long-term cultural value. Zee Immerse allows us to partner with brands at a deeper level, creating IPs that are inclusive by design and impactful across platforms. This is a strategic step towards building meaningful, monetizable brand ecosystems rather than one-off campaigns.”

Adding to this, Gunjarav Nayak, Chief Sales Officer – Hindi Movies, Youth Cluster, Brand Works & Influencer Marketing, Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said, “The future of branded content lies at the intersection of culture, community and commerce. With Zee Immerse, we are reimagining how brands integrate into entertainment not as interruptions, but as enablers of stories that audiences choose to engage with and amplify. This vertical brings together the power of movies, youth content, influencers and digital storytelling to build scalable, culturally relevant IPs for brands.”

The vertical will be led by Raj Shrivastav, who currently is Executive Vice President, Sales Planning & Strategy for ‘Z’ Digital, along with Trade Marketing. He will take on the additional mandate of steering Zee Immerse.

Sharing his perspective, Raj Shrivastav said, “The evolution from exposure to engagement to experience was inevitable. Inclusion is the natural next step. Zee Immerse is our response to that shift where brands don’t just tell stories but invite audiences to belong to them. This is where storytelling becomes a shared experience, not just seen or felt, but truly lived.”

With Zee Immerse, ‘Z’ reinforces its commitment to future-ready business solutions where creativity, commerce, and culture intersect to create IPs that audiences don’t just consume but proudly own.

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Bengaluru, 3^rd December 2025 – Zee Entertainment UK proudly announces the launch of Jodha Akbar, a dedicated single IP channel now available on Samsung TV Plus in France. This exclusive channel brings the beloved historical drama Jodha Akbar directly to French audiences, marking another milestone in Zee’s mission to expand its global footprint.

Jodha Akbar is a beautiful extension of the existing Zee One channel in France. After the resounding success and love for the Zee One French channel, this channel is another step towards bringing more entertainment and connecting with bigger French audiences in the country by showcasing this great historical and costume drama which has already seen stupendous success on Zee One.

Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service, delivering hundreds of live channels, on-demand movies and shows across news, sports, entertainment and more, subscription-free. The streaming service is available on Samsung TVs, Galaxy, and Samsung Smart Monitor devices.

Amit Goenka, President International and Digital Businesses, Zee Entertainment, said: “Jodha Akbar is one of the most acclaimed and watched show on Zee internationally. It has been dubbed and subtitled in multiple languages and has been watched for millions of hours by viewers across the world. To continue our legacy of building bridges between languages, cultures, and communities, we are bringing another partnership with Samsung TV Plus to experience the magic of Jodha Akbar as an exclusive single IP channel.”

Antoine Chotard, Country Lead France & MENA, Samsung TV Plus added: “Teaming up with Zee allows us to bring Jodha Akbar, a truly iconic and culturally rich series to Samsung TV Plus in France – we’re excited to launch this remarkable IP on the service and look forward to the channel’s success in the French market.”

The move builds on Zee’s strategy to delivering iconic shows through leading streaming and connected TV platforms. The partnership with Samsung TV Plus ensures a seamless viewing experience for audiences seeking premium global entertainment.

This will be Zee’s 8^th channel launch in Europe. Zee has set its own benchmark, and it is evident that it is in a league of its own.

Jodha Akbar is now available in France on the Samsung TV Plus app on channel number 4277.

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·         Mohammad Kaif and Andy Flower are some of the marquee additions in the commentary panel for the upcoming season

·         The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026

National, 27^th November 2025: As the DP World International League T20 enters its fourth season, the competition is all set to deliver another exhilarating chapter of the region’s premier T20 league. In the lead-up, the league and broadcast partners ‘Z’ have announced a standout commentary panel, poised to elevate the viewer experience.

Joining the team as the newest voices are, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif and Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, who coached the Gulf Giants to the inaugural title in the first season of the DP World ILT20.

They join an acclaimed panel featuring Simon Doull, Harbhajan Singh, Rohan Gavaskar, Ian Bishop, Alan Wilkins, Daren Ganga, Mike Haysman, Anjum Chopra, Nikhil Chopra, Vivek Razdan, Saba Karim, Ajay Mehra, and Reema Malhotra.

With their sharp cricketing acumen and rich storytelling offered in English and Hindi, the elite group who have called some of the game’s most iconic moments, will bring fans closer to the action on ‘Z’.

Adding to the broadcast experience will be presenters Laura McGoldrick, Grace Hayden, Arjun Pandit and Ridhima Pathak.

Commenting on the announcement, Laxmi Shetty, Head – Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, said, “A world-class tournament deserves world-class voices in the commentary box. We are thrilled to bring this exceptional lineup of cricketing legends and expert analysts to our viewers. At ‘Z’, we’re committed to delivering a premium viewing experience, and this powerhouse commentary team is integral to bringing the excitement and drama of ILT20 right into the homes of millions of cricket lovers across India.”

Andy Flower: “I really enjoyed my experiences coaching in the DP World ILT20 and it’s great to see the league expanding with players from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The UAE players are improving and contributing more with each season, and it’s going to be very interesting to watch this year following the league’s first auction.”

Ian Bishop: “I am thrilled to be back here for my fourth season of the DP World ILT20. The tournament has been a real catalyst for cricket development in the region. The UAE loves its cricket, and it truly needed a league like this to showcase and grow the game.”

The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026. Fans can catch all the action exclusively on ‘Z’.

Some of the cricketing world’s biggest names are set to light up the field this season, including Phil Salt (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sunil Narine (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Andre Russell (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Sam Curran (Desert Vipers), Noor Ahmad (Desert Vipers), Shimron Hetmyer (Desert Vipers), Rovman Powell (Dubai Capitals), Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals), Jordan Cox (Dubai Capitals), Moeen Ali (Gulf Giants), Pathum Nissanka (Gulf Giants) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Gulf Giants).

Adding more star power are Kieron Pollard (MI Emirates), Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates), Andre Fletcher (MI Emirates), Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), Tim David (Sharjah Warriorz), Dinesh Karthik (Sharjah Warriorz), Johnson Charles (Sharjah Warriorz), and Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz).

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• Company’s Annual Report for FY25 earns global recognition, ranks amongst top 50 reports across the globe
• Ranks 9th amongst all Indian companies for its narrative, creative design, relevance and message clarity 

Mumbai, 25th November 2025: Leading Content and Technology powerhouse, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has earned global recognition at the coveted League of American Communications Professionals (LACP) Spotlight Awards 2025, for its Annual Report released for the financial year 2024-2025. The report has clinched the Gold award with an outstanding score of 98 out of 100, placing it amongst the top 50 reports across the globe. The Company’s Annual Report also garnered the 9th rank amongst all the Indian companies that participated in the global competition.

The international jury recognized the Annual Report of ‘Z’ for its strength across parameters such as first impression, overall narrative, visual design, creativity, message clarity and perceived relevance. The strong performance across both content and design reiterated the Company’s commitment towards consistently delivering transparent, engaging and investor- friendly disclosures.

Commenting on the recognition, Vikas Somani, Head – Strategy, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said, “At ‘Z’, our utmost priority is to ensure clarity and transparency in communication across all aspects, to our trusted stakeholders. The global ranking and stellar score garnered by the Company’s Annual Report across all key parameters, is a firm recognition of the team’s efforts to consistently enhance our financial reporting. The FY2025 Annual Report aptly reflected the Company’s transformative journey, and the win further encourages us to raise the bar on the depth and quality of our reporting standards in line with global best practices.”

Designed with the theme of ‘Focused on the Future Frame’, the Annual Report showcased the Company’s strategic positioning and path to the future, highlighting its transformation to a Content and Technology powerhouse. It brought the new, futuristic brand identity of the Company to life, expressing the crystal-clear Purpose, Mission and Vision for the future, across all aspects.

The LACP is a global forum that evaluates annual reports and other communication collateral from organisations across sectors and geographies, assessing them on criteria such as creativity, clarity, relevance, information quality and visual presentation.

The achievement garnered by the Company reflects the comprehensive and integrated narrative of its Annual Reports, encompassing the business strategy, operational performance, digital transformation and progress on environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities.

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~ A cultural celebration of Marathi youth energy, creativity, and identity ~

Bengaluru, October 6, 2025: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (‘Z’), India’s leading content and technology powerhouse, today unveiled the first chapter of its new experiential vertical, Zee Live, with the launch of its flagship event Marathi Vajlach Pahije (MVP), in association with the talent company World Of Vibes.

Set to take place on October 12, 2025 at Phoenix Market City, Pune, MVP is more than a live concert — it’s a cultural movement. It celebrates the vibrant dynamism of Marathi youth culture, giving voice to the rising energy of hip-hop, indie music, and street art that reflects the pulse of a new generation of Maharashtrians.

Featuring 40+ artists including Kratex, Sanju Rathod, Shreyas & Vedang, MC Gawthi, and Patya the Doc, the festival is designed to deliver high-octane performances that echo today’s youth stories — raw, original, and unapologetically local. MVP is a stage where tradition meets modern expression, where Marathi pride gets reimagined through the beats, lyrics, and rhythm of today’s creators.

To deepen its impact, Zee Live has partnered with Marathi Zee 5, ensuring that the spirit of MVP resonates far beyond the physical stage. With exclusive digital content, artist spotlights, and behind-the-scenes stories, the festival will bridge on-ground excitement with an always-on digital ecosystem, allowing young fans across India to stay connected to the culture and the community.

Gareth Eswin Thomas, Business Head, Zee Live, said: “Marathi Vajlach Pahije is not just an event; it’s an expression of cultural identity and youthful creativity. It represents how live experiences can capture the energy of a generation, creating moments that are felt, shared, and remembered. This is the new language of cultural celebration.”

V.R. Hema, Business Head, Marathi Zee 5 & Zee Marathi, added: “Through our collaboration with Zee Live, we are giving Marathi youth a stage that is both local and global. By amplifying their voices and their music across our digital platforms, we are celebrating not just performances but the stories, struggles, and dreams behind them. MVP represents the next era of regional storytelling — bold, proud, real, and connected.”

Presented by Zee Live, Marathi Zee 5 and World of Vibes, MVP is the beginning of a new cultural chapter. From music to identity, from moments to memories — it’s an immersive celebration of Maharashtra’s artistic energy, powered by its youth.

Tickets are now available on BookMyShow. Fans can also discover exclusive content and behind-the-scenes stories on Marathi Zee 5.

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Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has announced a key leadership change in its advertising vertical with Laxmi Shetty stepping up as Head of Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast & Digital, following the exit of Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer for Ad Sales.

Sehgal, who spent nearly two decades at ZEEL, played a pivotal role in building the company’s advertising revenue engine across television and digital platforms. Joining in 2006, he rose through the ranks to become one of the most influential figures in Indian broadcast ad sales. His departure, described as a mutual decision, marks the end of an era at ZEEL. Sehgal reflected on his journey as an “incredible experience,” thanking colleagues and partners for their support.

His successor, Laxmi Shetty, has been with ZEEL for over 20 years, contributing extensively to ad strategy, client partnerships, and revenue growth. In her new role, she will oversee both linear and digital ad revenues, reporting directly to Punit Goenka, the CEO. Shetty’s focus will be on driving integrated monetisation strategies, unlocking new revenue streams, and offering advertisers innovative solutions that blend content and technology.

The move comes at a challenging time for the broadcaster. While ZEEL recently posted a 24% jump in net profits, operational revenues declined 14% year-on-year, reflecting ongoing pressures in India’s advertising market. With Shetty’s elevation, ZEEL is betting on her deep institutional knowledge and client-first approach to stabilise and strengthen its revenue performance.

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~ Carried forward the immersive format of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai chapters ~ 

Kolkata, 29^th July 2025: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), one of India’s leading entertainment powerhouses, concludes its multi-city flagship initiative R.I.S.E with an impactful event in Kolkata on 28^th July. After successful editions in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai, the Kolkata chapter brought together an eclectic mix of India’s most forward-looking marketers, growth-stage businesses, and retail visionaries.

The event carried forward the immersive format of the previous chapters, with engaging keynote sessions, curated experiences, and insightful discussions focused on how ZEE’s full-funnel advertising ecosystem is helping brands scale across India. This includes ZEE’s portfolio of over 50 channels, ZEE5 (OTT), YouTube network, social platforms, regional IPs, and a nationwide influencer network—all seamlessly integrated to deliver ultimate business solutions at scale.

Strengthening this offering is ZEE’s tech-first approach, which focuses on combining content creation with emerging technologies to identify value-driven opportunities, enhance targeting, and deliver improved consumer experiences to enable brands to convert storytelling into measurable outcomes.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said: “Kolkata, with its dynamic business ecosystem, has been the perfect finale to the R.I.S.E journey. Through R.I.S.E, we aim to help brands turn powerful storytelling into tangible business success. As we close this chapter, our commitment to empowering businesses through innovation and collaboration remains stronger.”

Conceptualised as a flagship initiative, R.I.S.E stands for Results | Integration | Strategy | Engagement.  Through the initiative, ZEE aims to earn trust through value-first storytelling and giving businesses tools that convert media into measurable growth.  It’s designed as a powerful platform to unite India’s marketing, media, and investment communities. The platform brings together a diverse mix of visionary brand builders, senior marketers, retail clients, venture capitalists, new-age digital businesses, and small business entities who are all looking to scale, disrupt, and grow in today’s evolving market landscape.

The successful culmination of the event in Kolkata reinforced ZEE’s commitment to empower brands and foster growth in key markets across India.

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~ Continues its journey to Bengaluru (July 23), Chennai (July 25), and Kolkata (July 28) ~

~ Carried forward the immersive format of the inaugural event ~ 

Delhi, 19^th July 2025: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), one of India’s leading entertainment powerhouses, continued its multi-city marquee initiative R.I.S.E with a compelling event in Delhi. After the spectacular launch in Mumbai, the Delhi chapter brought together an eclectic mix of India’s most forward-looking marketers, growth-stage businesses, and retail visionaries.

The Delhi edition carried forward the immersive format of the inaugural event, with compelling keynote sessions, curated experiences, and insightful discussions focused on how ZEE’s full-funnel advertising ecosystem is helping brands scale across India. This includes ZEE’s portfolio of over 50 channels, ZEE5 (OTT), YouTube network, social platforms, regional IPs, and a nationwide influencer network—all seamlessly integrated to deliver ultimate business solutions at scale.

Strengthening this offering is ZEE’s tech-first approach, which focuses on combining content creation with emerging technologies to identify value-driven opportunities, enhance targeting, and deliver improved consumer experiences to enable brands to convert storytelling into measurable outcomes.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said: “Delhi is a high-opportunity market, and R.I.S.E is our promise to deliver measurable brand and business growth in such dynamic environments. From building awareness to driving action, ZEE’s omnichannel ecosystem is designed for measurable outcomes. Our strength lies in uniting the power of content, data, and distribution into one integrated growth engine.”

Conceptualised as a flagship initiative, R.I.S.E stands for Results | Integration | Strategy | Engagement.  Through the initiative, ZEE aims to earn trust through value-first storytelling and giving businesses tools that convert media into measurable growth.  It’s designed as a powerful platform to unite India’s marketing, media, and investment communities. The platform brings together a diverse mix of visionary brand builders, senior marketers, retail clients, venture capitalists, new-age digital businesses, and small business entities who are all looking to scale, disrupt, and grow in today’s evolving market landscape.

Following the successful event in Delhi, R.I.S.E will continue its journey to Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, furthering its mission to empower and support brands across key growth markets.

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Leaders from Zee Entertainment, Ching’s Secret, Jyothy Labs, and Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers converge to discuss the blurred lines between legacy and new-age marketing in a hyper-connected India

Mumbai, July 16^th, 2025: “The distinction between “traditional” and “digital” media is no longer relevant” was the unanimous agreement between top influential business voices from across the consumer goods, media, and luxury sectors! The focus, they agreed, has decisively shifted to a unified, consumer-obsessed approach where engagement, storytelling, and an omnichannel presence are paramount. This was the dramatic conclusion of a timely panel discussion titled “Roots and Reach: Traditional Media’s Evolving Role in a Connected India”, as it explored the modern marketing landscape in India, debating and dissecting the strategies that define brand success in a rapidly transforming digital and physical marketplace.

Ajay Gupta, Founder of Capital Foods ( Ching’s Secret); Raghuvendra Katte, AVP, Brand Performance, Jyothy Labs (Ujala); Ashish Pete of the storied 190-year-old Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers; and Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer at Zee Entertainment Enterprise went deep into the central theme of convergence of marketing strategies. The discussion took off with the moderator highlighting the conundrum of legacy brands increasingly adopting new-age digital platforms while direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are realizing the necessity of an offline, physical presence to build trust and scale.

Raghuvendra Katte, Assistant Vice President, Jyothy Labs forcefully made the point to discard outdated labels. “I think we should drop this word called ‘traditional.’ There’s no such thing called traditional,” he stated, arguing that all platforms are simply different forms of media. He emphasized that the core objective has evolved, saying, “Earlier, it used to be distribution, distribution, distribution. Today, it is engagement, engagement, engagement. That’s the only measure we should all stick to.”

Ajay Gupta, Managing Director, Capital Foods Pvt. Ltd. shared the entrepreneurial journey of Ching’s Secret, providing powerful real-world examples of this philosophy. He revealed that the brand’s iconic “Desi Chinese” positioning came from observing consumer habits on the street, not from market research reports. He also highlighted the importance of authentic storytelling by choosing to partner with Yash Raj Films to create ad films, rather than a conventional ad agency. Offering advice to new-age entrepreneurs, Gupta cautioned, “You have to get on the ground. D2C is a great platform to build saliency, but it isn’t a business model. Chase the journey, not just the valuation.”

Representing a 116-year-old brand, Ashish Pethe, Partner, Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers spoke about the evolution of a “storied” brand. He explained how consumer priorities have shifted from “trust” to “design” in the jewellery sector, forcing the brand to innovate constantly with fresh collections. He confirmed the move towards an integrated model, stating, “People don’t trust only online players as much… they need a physical presence. We are also doing that, a ‘phygital’ kind of way.”

From the media powerhouse perspective, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., detailed how content creation is adapting to this new reality. He described Z’s strategy of curating content for all platforms from long-form television shows that build deep connections to “snackable” digital content featuring the same beloved characters. “It is not about us selling an inventory or an FCT,” Sehgal said. “It is about how we are building brands along with us, taking them on our journey.” He concluded with a powerful vision for the industry: “Rise and rise with Z.”

The consensus from the panel was clear: success in today’s connected India requires a deep, almost obsessive understanding of the consumer. Brands must be present where their consumers are, tell authentic stories that resonate culturally, and seamlessly integrate their online and offline worlds to build lasting relationships.

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