A first time ever look into the making of the next generation of Naval Officers

Continuing with its legacy of exclusive access stories with the Armed Forces, this Independence Day, National Geographic takes viewers inside the largest Naval Academy in Asia.

‘Inside INA’, a one-hour long, captivating narrative accurately captures how the men and women of Indian Navy are trained and moulded into future Naval heroes who serve the nation. A riveting view into the meticulous mental and physical training that each candidate undergoes, to rise to the challenges at sea, inspires valour and patriotism. A great mix of action, emotions, and sacrifices makes this a perfect way to celebrate Independence Day and salute the heroes of our Nation.

Speaking on the National Geographic Exclusive, Swati Mohan, Business Head, National Geographic & Fox Networks Group, India said, “'Inside INA’ underlines our core proposition of showcasing stories, ideas and people that take us Further – through a quest or mission. It has been heartening to be able to showcase the story of these cadets and the next generation of Naval Officers who whole heartedly embrace this very attribute. Combine that with the National Geographic gold standard of story telling and you get a compelling one hour that will take you through an extraordinary journey."

This is National Geographic’s fifth series celebrating the spirit and courage of the Indian armed forces. The network has earlier produced and broadcast Mission Army (with the Indian Army in 2011), Mission Navy (with the Indian Navy in 2009), Mission Udaan (with the Indian Air Force in 2005) and BSF: India’s First Line of Defence (With BSF in 2016).

Catch the exclusive premiere of Inside INA at 9 pm on Tuesday, 15th August 2017, only on National Geographic.

This Independence Day, Zee Cinema will premiere the biggest blockbuster Dangal with Audio Description & Subtitles for the Visually & Hearing Impaired #ZEEForAll

ZEE was the first TV broadcast company in India, launched in 1992.2017 marks 25 glorious years of ZEE offering unmatched entertainment.Present in over 172 countries, ZEE reaches over 1 billion people around the globe. And this 15th August, ZEE will take another leap ahead with #ZEEForAll

In an industry first initiative in India, ZEE has taken a strong content and technology initiative to make content on television accessible for the Visually & Hearing Impaired. #ZEEForAll is an effort from Zee to provide audiences who have a sensory handicap, with unparalleled access to entertainment that is currently enjoyed by millions of Indians with sight. This will be made available on the premiere of the most loved film of last year, Aamir Khan's Dangal.

This year, India’s first largest integrated media and entertainment company, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd is celebrating its 25th anniversary. ZEE has delivered on the commitment of providing world class entertainment to audiences in India, earned recognition for its leadership, built long lasting relationships with its audiences and partners and established best practices for the entertainment industry in India and across the world. ZEE covers 172 countries and entertains over 1 billion viewers, driven by its philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” - The world is my family. This Independence Day, 15 August 2017 at 12 Noon, ZEE will take this brand ethos a step ahead with the initiative of being the FIRST broadcaster in the history of Indian television to deliver access services to its audiences with #ZEEForAll. ZEE’s first Hindi movie channel - Zee Cinema SD - will be the FIRST Hindi movie channel in India to premiere India’s biggest blockbuster, Aamir Khan’s Dangal with Audio Description for Visually Impaired audiences. The film which moved audiences in India and across the world with its immaculately crafted script and powerhouse performances will also have subtitles for the Hearing Impaired audiences.

Dangal’s emotional resonance, technical artistry and compelling performances makes it the most awaited film premiere on television. Director Nitesh Tiwari’s sports biographical drama features Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Suhani Bhatnagar, Zaira Wasim, Aparshakti Khurrana, Ritvik Sahore and Girish Kulkarni. It is based on the true story of a former Indian national wrestling champ who battles existing social order to train his two young daughters to be world-class contenders in the otherwise male dominated sport of wrestling.

As per the World Health Organisation 2010 Report, India accounts for 8 million blind, 54.5 million people with low vision and 62.6 million people with visual impairment – which makes India home to the second largest visually challenged population globally. The objective of #ZEEForAll is to ensure that the large population of the Visually and Hearing Impaired receives access to what is truly world class, inspiring entertainment. Zee Cinema has also associated with the biggest and most trusted Association for the Visually Impaired in the country, National Association For The Blind (Mumbai, Indore, Chandigarh and Lucknow), National Association For The Blind - The Workshop for the Blind in Mumbai, Institution For The Blind in Delhi and Patiala School of Blind & Deaf in Punjab. To sensitize the Visually Impaired with the technology of Audio Description and to bring entertainment within their reach, Zee Cinema will host preview screenings with Audio Description and Subtitles.

Reaching out to over 109 million viewers per week, Zee Cinema’s premiere of Dangal with Audio Description and subtitles will surely change the accessibility landscape in India. The Audio Description feed will be available on Dish TV, Videocon, Tata Sky and Airtel. The subtitles will be in English language on HD and in Hindi language on SD.

Mr. Punit Misra, CEO - Domestic Broadcast Business, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), said “On India’s 70th Independence Day, ZEE redefines the ‘freedom to see’ and offers all our audiences a superlative movie watching experience in the comfort of their homes. Zee Cinema will be the first movie channel in India to premiere a film curated for the Visually Impaired. It will also have subtitles for the Hearing Impaired audiences. We hope that the premiere of Dangal reaches out to the maximum number of visually and Hearing Impaired audiences in India. We are also exploring adding Audio Description in other Indian regional languages in the future. Just like Aamir gave us the Audio Description assets for Dangal, we will reach out to all our content partners requesting for the same as we expand the initiative. #ZEEForAll will surely be a milestone in the history of TV broadcasting in India.”

Mr. Ruchir Tiwari, Business Head, Zee Hindi Movie Cluster said “ZEE has many firsts in the industry right since its launch in 1992. ##ZEEForAll promises to be the most special in its journey of 25 glorious years. It’s wonderful to associate with Aamir Khan on this pioneering initiative with Dangal - a film that is inspiring, emotional and entertaining. I am personally very happy that Dangal has inspired our team to do what is needed to make the movie accessible to all our viewers.”

Speaking about Dangal’s premiere on television being the first film on television that is inclusive for the Visually and Hearing Impaired audiences in India, Mr. Aamir Khan said, “It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the television premiere of Dangal on 15th Aug on Zee Cinema SD. ZEE is going the extra mile with its initiative #ZEEForAll that will get audiences with visual impairment to experience television like never before. I instantly agreed to the idea of premiering Dangal with Audio Description for the Visually Impaired and it’s a matter of absolute pride to associate with ZEE on this Independence Day premiere of my film. Congratulations to Punit Goenka and Team ZEE on being the first broadcaster in India to premiere a film with Audio Description and thereby include the vast community of Visually Impaired into the mainstream popular culture.”

Essentially, Audio Description conveys the most important visual aspects of the story by providing commentary during natural pauses and moments of quiet. It is voice-over narration that explains what’s happening on the screen, including physical actions made by various characters and other important visual elements. The narration is inserted between lines of dialogue. This Audio Description is recorded and made available as a separate audio track that can be selected by the audience on their remote.

Zee Cinema’s premiere of Dangal with Audio Description is just the start! Zee Cinema extends an invitation to all the other broadcasters in India to similarly make entertainment inclusive to all in India.

Zee Café to present ‘Top of the Lake’, a powerful and haunting story starting from 10th August, every Thursday at 10 PM.

This gripping mystery drama stars Elizabeth Moss, the Golden Globe winning actress who plays Robin Griffin, a Detective, investigating the mysterious disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl. Created and co-directed by Jane Campion with a stellar cast comprising Peter Mullan, Holly Hunter and many more, the show will have the Indian viewers at the edge of their seats.

‘Top of the Lake’ begins with a mystery - Tui, a 12-year-old girl, walks chest deep into the freezing waters of a South Island lake in New Zealand. She is five months pregnant and won’t say who the father is. Then she disappears. Robin Griffin is a gutsy but inexperienced detective, who is called in to investigate. But as Robin becomes more and more obsessed with the search for Tui, she slowly begins to realize that finding Tui is tantamount to finding herself - a self she has kept well hidden. Set against one of the most amazing and untouched landscapes left on the planet, Top of the Lake is a powerful and haunting story about our search for happiness where the dream of paradise attracts it dark twin, the fall.

Find where Robin’s search for Tui leads her in ‘Top of the lake’ that will premiere on 10th August at 10 PM only on Zee Café

PVR Ltd, India’s largest multiplex company today announced that it has entered into Definitive agreements with Smaaash Entertainment Private Limited (“SMAAASH”) to sell its stake in bluO entertainment, a premium bowling and entertainment format operated by the Company.

As part of its national expansion plans, Smaaash Entertainment Private Limited (“SMAAASH”), India's acclaimed world class gaming and entertainment company, has acquired 100% stake in bluO entertainment (a premium bowling and entertainment format), through a cash acquisition deal.

bluO is a joint venture between PVR Limited and Major Cineplex Group of Thailand in which PVR owns 51% stake with balance 49% stake held by Major Group. The acquisition marks the doubling of the area under SMAAASH management from 276,000 square feet to approximately around 600,000 square feet in India.

The significant acquisition also adds six centers (approximately 210,000 sq. ft. of premium space) across five cities to SMAAASH’s existing blueprint of seven centers in India and one in Minneapolis in the United States. The newly acquired centres will operate under SMAAASH branding and two more centers are expected to open shortly! SMAAASH will introduce its signature games at all bluO centres, which only had bowling before.

Commenting on the deal Mr. Ajay Bijli, Chairman cum Managing Director, PVR Ltd., said, “The sale of bluO is in line with our strategy to divest all non-core assets and focus on our core Cinema Exhibition business. It is also reflective of the value embedded in our core assets and demonstrates our commitment to increase shareholder value and provide management a more focused approach for enhancing value in exhibition business. We are pleased to sell the business to SMAAASH, which is a leader in retail and entertainment space in India and the US; and believe that they will take the business to even greater heights.”

Commenting on the deal, Mr. Shripal Morakhia, Chairman & Chief Imagination Officer, Smaaash Entertainment Private Limited, said, “The strategic acquisition of BluO is a significant step in doubling SMAAASH’s scale and outreach in India’s fast growing retail entertainment space. The synergies between both brands are deeply symbiotic in creating a network of centers in key cities that are designed as destinations with a relentless focus on wholesome sports, active life, and adventure for urban citizens. We are sure that bluO’s premium locations, infrastructure and F&B offerings, coupled with SMAAASH’s leadership in innovation with new technology and virtual reality, will fill a much-needed gap for experiential entertainment in our country. We are committed to enhancing profitability and revenue per centre while being the custodian of customer smiles in these centres.”

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot assure action

The soaring popularity of the app based cab services has redefined the face of the transportation industry in several Indian cities. From women and senior citizens to people with disabilities, these affordable app based cabs allow people to travel alone at their own convenience. But how safe are these cabs?

Between 2015 and 2017, at least eight heinous crimes were committed by drivers of these app-based cabs. Since the very first incident came to light, cases regarding crimes against women and concerns over passenger safety have only grown. CNN-News18, embarked on a fortnight-long extensive investigation #OperationTaxi, to reveal how app based cabs have become a nightmare. After taking over 300 rides, the team found some shocking loopholes in the system and focused on issues like unverified drivers, fake licenses being issued, no action on complaints by customers and tainted drivers re-entering the system.

A team of 25 reporters from across the country went to investigate in 4 metro cities that included the National Capital Region, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. The channel’s team caught on spy camera, cab drivers spilling secrets and admitting how they never registered to drive that particular cab and were, in fact, driving someone else’s cab. The investigation further revealed that some of the drivers were using fake driving license and even their verification was based on fraudulent documents. This means that not only a driver can be untraceable after a crime but he can also enter the system again using forged identity.

While these shocking admissions from the drivers paint a very frightening and disturbing picture, they also reveal that how even after multiple crimes by the drivers and thereafter multiple promises by the companies, the safety of the passengers is being compromised for financial gains.

Following the telecast of the sting operation on the channel, several authorities have taken stock of the situation and promised action. While Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has taken cognizance of the issue, Kailash Gahlot, Delhi Transport Minister has assured proper action will be taken by the Delhi government. The latter agreed that issue of negligence when it comes to driver verification is a serious concern. He guaranteed that they would be taking all the precautions in the coming City Taxi scheme. The app based cab services will have to share the data of any driver registered with them and the drivers will have to go through rigorous police verification process.