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From the time Sir Dorabji <keyword id="19904884" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata" source="keywords">Tata</keyword> sponsored a handful of Indian athletes to the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Tata group has been a constant in India's sporting landscape and the conglomerate's involvement only grew under <keyword id="19981455" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ratan-tata" source="keywords">Ratan Tata</keyword>, who considered sport a "way of life". The chairman emeritus of Tata Sons died here at the age of 86 on Wednesday after being admitted to a hospital on Monday for "age and related medical conditions". His death triggered an avalanche of tributes from eminent personalities from all walks of life and sports was no different. From being the title sponsor of the glitzy Indian Premier League of cricket to supporting lesser-followed sports like archery to owning a football team in the Indian Super League to sponsoring a high-profile chess tournament, the Tata group has been deeply involved with the country's sporting ecosystem. Most of this involvement grew during Ratan Tata's tenure. "He always believed in 'sports is the way of life' and we are happy to carry forward the legacy. We have been the torchbearer of sports with 19 sporting verticals from football, hockey, archery to horse riding, boxing, karate, racket sports. You name it, we have it," an official involved with the JRD Tata Sports Academy, which was inaugurated in 1991 in Jamshedpur, told PTI. The growth in Tata Group's sporting involvement under Ratan Tata was the continuation of a legacy. After all, Sir Dorabji Tata, who played cricket, tennis and football, was the first President of the Indian Olympic Association (1924). This was after he had financed the Olympic appearance of four track-and-field athletes and two wrestlers at the Antwerp Games, helping organise their trials in Pune as well. Tata Steel Chess, which is also called the 'Wimbledon of chess', is a marquee event on global chess calendar, held at <keyword id="20385206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wijk-aan-zee" source="keywords">Wijk Aan Zee</keyword>, the Netherlands. It wasn't always known that. It was Corus Chess Tournament for the longest time before Tata Steel took over the title sponsor company, thereby claiming the rights of this event from 2007 onwards. Five-time world champion and Indian chess legend <keyword id="20221790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="viswanathan-anand" source="keywords">Viswanathan Anand</keyword> was among the first sports icons to pay tributes to the late industrialist, saying that he "touched all our lives". "It is with profound sadness that we bid farewell to a giant of industry and philanthropy. We received our Padma Vibhushan together, and I was truly touched by his humility and genteel nature," Anand wrote on X. "The chess fraternity owes much to the traditions that are so closely associated with the Tata Group. @tatasteelchess in Holland is an event that made us chess players particularly proud, especially when the Tatas took over Corus, and later starting a new tradition with @tschessindia," he added. "The chess world and I offer our deepest condolences to @RNTata2000, a human being who touched all our lives and always stood for the good of society. Rest in peace," Anand continued. Tata Foootball Academy started back in 1987 under <keyword id="23494114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="russi-mody" source="keywords">Russi Mody</keyword>, the then chairman of Tata Steel, who had the backing of Ratan Tata for the project. The academy has been supplying national level footballers since early '90s with its some of its noted alumni being current All India Football Federation head and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey, Rennedy Singh, Dipendu Biswas and Kiran Khongsai. "TFA has played a pioneering role in Indian football by focusing on nurturing young talent and contributing significantly to the development of football in the country," the official associated with JRD sports complex said. "He (Ratan Tata) was there at the launch of Jamshedpur FC in the ISL in 2017. he interacted with the players and coaches, took photos with them. They also presented him with a signed jersey. He was very happy to see the team coming up and playing in the top tier ISL," he recalled. The enigmatic businessman was there to launch the hockey academy in Jamshedpur in 2019. "...perhaps for the last time he was here," the official said. Hockey India said Ratan Tata will be remembered as a "shining gem". "Your vision and endless contribution to our nation will never be forgotten. Your legacy will forever live with us till eternity. Hockey India pays tribute to one of Modern India's Pioneers - Ratan Naval Tata," it added. The legendary <keyword id="19919207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sachin-tendulkar" source="keywords">Sachin Tendulkar</keyword> said Ratan Tata's legacy will continue through his foundations. "In his life, and demise, Mr Ratan Tata has moved the nation. I was fortunate to spend time with him, but millions, who have never met him, feel the same grief that I feel today. Such is his impact," <keyword id="20012835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tendulkar" source="keywords">Tendulkar</keyword> wrote. The Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur has been the training ground for ace Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das for several years. Given Tata Group's involvement in India's Olympic movement, it was hardly a surprise to see an outpouring of tributes from some of country's top athletes. "I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Shri Ratan Tata ji. He was a visionary, and I'll never forget the conversation I had with him. He inspired this entire nation. I pray that his loved ones find strength. Om Shanti," posted India's track-and-field Olympic gold-winner, Neeraj Chopra. India's first-ever Olympics medal winner in badminton, <keyword id="20204318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="saina-nehwal" source="keywords">Saina Nehwal</keyword> described him as a great man. "Ratan Tata sir aapki legacy hamesha humare saath rahegi. RIP (sic). (A great man and true visionary. Tata sir your legacy will always remain with us," she said. One of India's greatest spin bowlers and former captain Anil Kumble said, "Mr. Ratan Tata's contribution extends far beyond business. His legacy of giving back to society will continue to inspire future generations. Rest in peace." "An institution who embodied Excellence, Vision and Humility. A Philanthropist par excellence. A massive loss to society. Condolences to the entire Tata family. God bless his soul #RatanTata," wrote former India player and coach <keyword id="19958622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ravi-shastri" source="keywords">Ravi Shastri</keyword>.

The Tata effect on Indian sports: Ratan Tata's demise mourned by India stalwarts

<ul><li><keyword id="19912128" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chandra" source="keywords">Chandra</keyword> hit upon the idea to launch a TV channel after he saw big hotels showing CNN via satellite dishes during the Gulf War.</li><li><keyword id="19976119" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee" source="keywords">Zee</keyword> was India’s first private TV channel and had pioneered many superhit TV shows, reality shows and kickstarted the careers of many media barons.</li><li>Chandra entered the infrastructure business and planned a hostile takeover of IVRCL which failed.</li><li>By the mid-2010s, his new ventures had piled up a huge debt which pushed him to sell stake in crown jewel, Zee.</li></ul>Remember Hum Paanch? <keyword id="20328693" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee-antakshari" source="keywords">Zee Antakshari</keyword>? Phillips Top 10? These shows, now shared around social media by nostalgia lovers, were the first taste of Hindi TV programmes for many millennials. The generation saw the country move away from one or two channels with very limited entertainment programming; with the entry of private companies into satellite programming, forcing Indians to buy TVs that needed remotes. The man who made this revolution possible was Subhash Chandra, a bright young man from Hisar. Born into an Agrawal Bania family, Chandra entered into business early in his life, and in the 70s before TV wasn’t around in India. After his family business fell into debt, he had to abruptly leave college, go back to Haryana and work on repaying debts. He started off running a pulse polishing mill with moderate success, but his fortunes improved as he supplied grains to Food Corporation of India (FCI). By late 80s and early 90s, he was exporting rice and soybeans to Russia, and had also started a packaging company. It was all running smoothly, until one election season he saw that politicians were renting out vans with projectors and screens for their roadshows. He later learnt that Five-Star Hotels owned satellite dishes and were telecasting CNN during the Gulf War. That’s when the idea of broadcasting content with ads in between came to him, he told Outlook Business in <a href="https://www.outlookbusiness.com/specials-34/secret-diary-of-an-entrepreneur_2018/live-in-the-present-dont-recount-and-regret-the-past-4353">Secret Diary of Subhash Chandra</a>. <div type="image" title="hum paanch twitter" msid="107136147" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Source: Twitter (Now X) &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The realm of reality TV As he went about it, he was laughed off by DD executives, who coolly told him that they employ hundreds of people and equipment worth thousands of crores. He then intended to lease a transponder in Hong Kong and broadcast from there. STAR’s Li Ka-shing was not so receptive to the idea of broadcasting business in India. After many twists and turns, he rented a transponder; and India’s got its first Hindi channel in the Star bouquet in 1992. Initially there was only three hours of programming, with reruns of old DD serials. But it soon branched<a href="https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/JV7xB6PWkkl5q2Glq8tT8K/The-zee-story-turns-20.html"> out with chat shows </a>like Chakravyuha. Many media barons like Ronnie Screwala who produced the chat show started their careers at Zee. Pritish Nandy also had a show on it called Fiscal Fitness. The hugely popular Aap Ki Adalat, which now airs on India TV, also debuted on Zee. Rajat Sharma, its popular interviewer, also expanded the group’s political vista. The Union Minister Smriti Irani was briefly a stringer for Zee News which was launched later by the group. She, however, also became the star of Star Plus’ super hit TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in early 2000s. In addition to comedy shows, Zee diversified into drama shows like Neena Gupta starring Parampara in addition to <keyword id="20328692" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee-horror-show" source="keywords">Zee Horror Show</keyword>. Its hugely popular Antakshari show was hosted by stars like Renuka Shahane, Pallavi Joshi and Annu Kapoor. <div type="image" title="annu kapoor" msid="107136187" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Source: Twitter (Now X)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Bags of fan mail In spite of growing success, Chandra had to convince advertisers to shift from print and outdoor ads to TV advertising. He did it by lugging along bags of fan mail sent by viewers of his shows. By the time other players saw how valuable reaching all over India with Hindi shows was, he was miles ahead. He added more channels across movies, music in addition to news, across languages to his bouquet. By the time the world entered the new millennium, he had captured a large chunk of India’s eyeballs, not to mention hearts. The deal with Richard Li, son of Li Ka-shing also included an option to buy 25% stake in the venture within a year. By the time he realised it was good business, the option had long expired. Chandra refused to sell him the stake, took his company public, and the issue was subscribed 60 times over. The goatee-sporting man had become one of India’s first media barons and a billionaire. A failed hostile takeover By 2004, his media conglomerate was running steady, but Chandra, true to himself, was already hunting for the next big bet. The sector he chose was infrastructure. Back then, India was building roads, adding power generation as well as distribution assets, and setting-up ports and airports with a renewed fervour. Many small regional players like GMR and GVK became national companies after they won large-scale airport projects. It seemed like a good business. However, by the time Chandra entered it in 2008, the sector was showing signs of fatigue, due to credit crunch and more. Players were seeing the effects of adding heavy debt onto books. One such company was Hyderabad-based IVRCL which had a good set of projects, sizeable orderbook but was crushing under debt, in 2012. It was borrowing money for working capital purposes, and projects were moving ahead slower. Chandra believed that a hostile takeover of the company would catalyse its infra business which was executing a few highway projects. He went in and acquired a tad over 12% stake in the company when IVRCL too changed track. It stopped bidding for new projects, started monetising its projects and paring down its debt. Eventually Chandra had to sell off his stock at a loss. Takeovers are a high stakes game. Though the financials were never disclosed, the assumption, based on the company’s market cap at that time, he might have spent ₹200 crore on it. On the other hand, its own infrastructure business never scaled up later on, and continued to report deep losses for the next few years. It was a strategy gone wrong, as he later admitted in his open letter. Politics to pledging In 2016, Chandra made his political debut to become a Rajya Sabha MP representing BJP in Haryana. The close contest between him and the Congress candidate R K Anand was also interesting in other ways too. Chandra was declared winner after 14 votes were made invalid as they used the wrong pens. In 2022, Chandra changed his ‘native home <a href="https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/06/08/why-subhash-chandras-rajya-sabha-dreams-are-now-congresss-nightmares">town’ to Rajasthan</a> and filed his nomination as an independent candidate backed by BJP. He however accepted defeat after he fell short of over 40 votes. On the other end, his business was branching out into many businesses, with varying successes, soaking in capital. It entered financial services, acquired Peerless Mutual Fund, investment banking, private equity and much more. It went into education with a chain of K-12 schools, gold refineries in addition to related media businesses like Fun Cinemas and Dish TV. He also had plans for a wellness company. These expansions came at a cost, and a huge debt. The group soon had 87 operating companies which had straddled debt to the tune of ₹17,000 crore, as per estimates. How was so much money raised? The promoters had to pledge their shares in listed entities like Zee Entertainment, Dish TV, Zee Media Corporation, SITI Networks, <keyword id="19960022" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee-learn" source="keywords">Zee Learn</keyword> and Shirpur Gold refinery. Reports suggest that <a href="https://www.thequint.com/amp/story/news%2Fbusiness%2Fdoes-zee-news-need-a-commercial-bank-subhash-chandra#read-more">anywhere between 60-90% of their </a>shares in these companies were pledged with lenders in the mid-2010s. The chickens however came to roost in 2018 when the<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/ilfs-crisis-spilling-beyond-finance-chandras-zee-feeling-the-heat/articleshow/67734787.cms?from=mdr"> NBFC IL&amp;FS bankruptcy spooke</a>d the markets, making it tough for him to rollover debt. The loss of crown jewel Soon, the promoters were forced to sell the stake that they had pledged. Zee’s promoter shareholding fell from 42% to a dismal 4% in its crown jewel, Zee Entertainment. In the meanwhile, its flagship Zee’s earnings also started dwindling, worrying analysts and investors; that led the market regulator to look into it. Between 2021 and 2023, its profits slid by 48%. In 2021, for the second time in two years, Chandra admitted to his mistakes that led to default. He announced <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/subhash-chandra-claims-91-debt-with-43-lenders-settled/articleshow/85007881.cms?from=mdr">that he had settled</a> 91% of his debts with 43 lenders. “I have no regrets for parting with a substantial ownership in the business and specially in the jewels of the crown,” he said in an open letter. Apart from the promoter crisis, the businesses were moving at a slow pace too. Satellite pay TV has become less attractive to viewers now used to streaming. Dish TV, owned by his brother, has been losing steam as well. Edtech is facing its own existential crisis. His digital ventures of Zee5 progressed but at a slow rate due to heavy competition. There are no updates on his plans for its metaverse venture, oddly named Maayaverse. On top of it, Zee’s plans to merge with Sony fell through, after two years of negotiations. Sony is also seeking a $90 million termination fee, which Zee intends to contest. That means more legal troubles, barely a year after it settled a dispute with J C Flowers, an asset reconstruction company. Chandra and his son Puneet Goenka are now part of a <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sebi-subhash-chandra-punit-goenka-sebis-flowcharts-explain-how-zee-bosses-allegedly-faked-loan-recovery-4119857">probe by market regulator SEBI</a>, to see if money was siphoned off from the listed entities. That would be a tough spot to any businessman, let alone one who is devoid of crown jewels and without a seat in the parliament. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/webstories/subrata-roys-journey-from-lucknows-sahara-shahar-to-londons-grosvenor-house-to-tihar-jail/slidelist/105234003.cms">Subrata Roy’s journey from Lucknow’s Sahara Shahar to London’s Grosvenor House to Tihar Jail</a>

From A to Zee: Subhash Chandra’s spectacular rise and fall

<ul><li><keyword id="20068359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee-entertainment" source="keywords">Zee Entertainment</keyword> has backed out from a $ 1.4 billion licensing agreement with <keyword id="19976118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="disney-star" source="keywords">Disney Star</keyword> for the TV broadcast right for cricket matches.</li><li>This is reportedly a fallout of collapse of its merger deal with <keyword id="19914172" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sony" source="keywords">Sony</keyword>.</li><li>Sony Corporation had on Monday announced the termination of the $ 10 billion merger.</li></ul> Zee Entertainment has backed out from a $ 1.4 billion licensing agreement with Disney Star for the TV broadcast right for cricket matches as a fallout of collapse of its merger deal with Sony, according to industry sources. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (<keyword id="20115912" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zeel" source="keywords">ZEEL</keyword>), which has already missed the first instalment of around $ 200 million, will not move ahead, industry sources told PTI. The instalment to be paid to Disney Star was part of the $ 1.5 billion investment committed by Sony Group after its merger with ZEEL, said another industry source while confirming the development. Sony Corporation had on Monday announced the termination of the $ 10 billion merger agreement with ZEEL, while seeking $ 90 million for breach of conditions besides initiating arbitration. As per the merger agreement between ZEEL and Sony, the Japanese entity was supposed to invest $ 1.575 billion in the merged entity and have a majority stake. There were no immediate comments from ZEEL over the development. Three days after Sony called off the deal, ZEEL MD &amp; CEO <keyword id="20130441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="punit-goenka" source="keywords">Punit Goenka</keyword> addressed a townhall meeting of around 3,000 employees across the globe, in which he asked them to move forward and chase new opportunities. "Our industry is witnessing rapid changes, and these winds of change are giving us a new shape. We have to mould ourselves to be well-positioned in order to capitalise on the opportunities coming our way. We have been leaders over the last 3 decades and have delivered value to our stakeholders, year on year," he said. On August 30, 2022, ZEEL had announced entering into a strategic licensing agreement with Disney Star for television broadcasting rights of the ICC Men's and Under-19 global events for a period of four years. Disney Star will continue to exclusively stream all ICC tournaments through its digital platform Disney+ Hotstar, a joint statement had said. This was done with the in-principle approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Disney Star bagged the broadcast rights of all ICC events for four years from 2024 to 2027 for the Indian market from the sport's global governing body. As per the agreement, ZEEL was supposed to have exclusive television rights for ICC men's events, including the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which will be played in 2024 and 2026, ICC Men's Champions Trophy (2025), and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup (2027), along with key ICC U-19 events, it said. ZEEL on Wednesday approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to get Sony to honour a $ 10 billion merger deal. Sony had resisted the demand by Subhash Chandra's son Punit Goenka, who was investigated by Sebi over fraud allegations, to stay on after the merger. It has also initiated appropriate legal actions to contest the claims of $ 90 million (Rs 748.5 crore) filed by Sony Group before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/oneplus-12-vs-oneplus-12r-heres-whats-different-between-the-two-devices/slidelist/107138750.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/oneplus-12-vs-oneplus-12r-heres-whats-different-between-the-two-devices/slidelist/107138750.cms" target="_blank">OnePlus 12 vs OnePlus 12R – What distinguishes the two new smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/rolls-royce-spectre-rolls-out-as-indias-most-expensive-electric-car/articleshow/107051636.cms">Rolls Royce Spectre rolls out as India’s most expensive electric car</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/global-pc-shipments-decline-for-the-eighth-straight-quarter-hopes-pinned-on-ai-to-drive-sales/articleshow/106981182.cms">Global PC shipments decline for the eighth straight quarter; hopes pinned on AI to drive sales</a>

Zee Entertainment backs out from $1.4 bn deal with Disney Star

<ul><li>With lockdowns in most states, ZEE's TV viewership jumped again during the quarter, though lower than Q1 of last year.</li><li><keyword id="353090" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zeel">ZEEL</keyword>'s OTT platform ZEE5 closes the quarter with an average watch time of 109 minutes per viewer per month.</li></ul>ZEEL has released its quarterly earnings report. As per the report, second COVID wave reversed the strong recovery the group witnessed in H2FY21. Domestic ad revenues for both Q1FY22 and Q1FY21 were impacted by lockdowns. However, the impact this year was much lower, reflected in 127.9% YoY growth. Compared to Q1FY20, domestic ad revenues were lower by 22.7%. <div type="image" title="zeel revenue" msid="85101065" hostid="261"></div> This increase in marketing cost on a YoY basis is on account of the release of Radhe and continued investments in ZEE5. Marketing costs in Q1FY21 was lower on account of much lower original content production. ZEEL’s broadcast business network share dropped due to lockdown disruption and soft performance in some markets. On the other hand, its TV viewership again jumped during the quarter, though lower than Q1 of last year. ZEEL’s OTT platform, ZEE5 gains its momentum again on the back of an expansive content catalogue. It closed June with 80.2mn global MAUs, 7.1mn global DAUs and 190 minutes average watch time per viewer per month. ZEE5’s Q1 Revenue and EBITDA (loss excludes costs incurred by the business on ZEEL network) stood at Rs.1,117mn and Rs. (2,033mn). The platform released 11 original shows and movies released during the quarter. <keyword id="3186290" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zee-Music-Company">ZEE Music Company</keyword> added ~3mn subscribers on YouTube. With 75mn+ subscribers, it is the second most subscribed Indian music channel on YouTube. To keep the ball rolling, ZMC is ramping up its content library by adding movies across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Punjabi languages starting H2FY22.

COVID-19’s second wave impacts ZEEL’s margins for Q1’FY22; domestic ad growth stands at -22.7% than 2020

<ul><li><keyword id="3186877" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sony-pictures-networks-india" source="Orion">Sony Pictures Networks India</keyword> (SPNI) and <keyword id="174248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee-entertainment-enterprises-ltd" source="Orion">Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd</keyword>. (ZEEL) have entered into an exclusive, non-binding Term Sheet to combine both companies’ linear networks, digital assets, production operations and program libraries. </li><li>The combined company would be a publicly listed company in India and be better positioned to lead the consumer transition from traditional pay TV into the digital future.</li></ul>Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) have entered into an exclusive, non-binding Term Sheet to combine both companies’ linear networks, digital assets, production operations and program libraries. The non-binding Term Sheet provides an exclusive negotiation period of 90 days during which ZEEL and SPNI will conduct mutual diligence and negotiate definitive, binding agreements. The combined company would be a publicly listed company in India and be better positioned to lead the consumer transition from traditional pay TV into the digital future. The <keyword id="42411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="merger" source="Orion">merger</keyword> of ZEEL and SPNI would bring together two leading Indian media network businesses, benefitting consumers throughout India across content genres, from film to sports. The combined company is expected to benefit all stakeholders given strong synergies between ZEEL and SPNI. Under the terms of the non-binding Term Sheet, Sony Pictures Entertainment, the parent company of SPNI, would invest growth capital so that SPNI has a cash balance of approximately USD $1.575 billion at closing for use to enhance the combined company’s digital platforms across technology and content, ability to bid for broadcasting rights in the fast-growing sports landscape and pursue other growth opportunities. Sony Pictures Entertainment would hold a majority stake in the combined company. Current ZEEL Managing Director &amp; CEO <keyword id="599253" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="punit-goenka" source="Orion">Punit Goenka</keyword> is to lead the combined company. The combined company’s board of directors would include directors nominated by <keyword id="1192557" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sony-group" source="Orion">Sony Group</keyword> and result in Sony Group having the right to nominate the majority of the board members. It is anticipated that a final transaction would be subject to completion of customary due diligence, negotiation, and execution of definitive binding agreements, and required corporate, regulatory and third-party approvals, including ZEEL shareholder vote.

Sony Pictures Networks India and Zee Entertainment announce merger

A group of minority shareholders of <keyword id="51758" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="dish-tv" source="Orion">Dish TV</keyword> has sent a notice to call an Extraordinary General meeting (EGM) of the direct-to-home service provider, raising concerns over corporate governance issues, seeking reconstitution of the board and removal of two independent directors questioning their independence. The notice sent by 77 shareholders of Dish TV, representing 10.15 per cent shareholding, proposed to nominate K Badri Narayanan, <keyword id="17427302" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="satis-kumar-yanmandra" source="Orion">Satis Kumar Yanmandra</keyword>, Jeet Sen Gupta as independent directors on the board of the <keyword id="60807" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="essel" source="Orion">Essel</keyword> Group firm. Besides, it has also sought the removal of two independent directors -- <keyword id="1624320" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shankar-aggarwal" source="Orion">Shankar Aggarwal</keyword> and Rashmi Aggarwal -- from the board of the company. "The existing independent directors have a long-term association with Dish TV and Essel group which cast doubt over their independence," the shareholders wrote in the notice. Dish TV is embroiled in a tussle between its largest shareholder Yes Bank Ltd (YBL) and the promoter family led by its former chairman Jawahar Lal Goel over board representation in the company. The company is unable to pass its annual statements from the last two years and the feud has led to the departure of its former promoter-backed chairman Jawahar Lal Goel. Informing about the development to the stock exchanges, Dish TV said it is examining the communication from the minority shareholders. "... will take necessary steps as per applicable law and procedures," said Dish TV in a regulatory filing. Besides, the minority shareholders have also raised several other issues questioning the investments made by the company such as in its OTT platform Watcho. "Dish TV made a significant investment of Rs 1,218 crore (which is 20 per cent of total netblock of the fixed assets, intangibles, investments and capital WIP of Rs 6,012 crore) in the FY20 (Intangible Assets), for Watcho, its flagship OTT platform," they said. The investments were qualified in FY2020 (the year of the investment itself) and in FY2021. "Upon lenders and investors questioning the investments, the company had made an impairment of Rs 203 crore in FY2022," it said. During FY20, the Essel group companies defaulted with multiple lenders, including bank loans to Essel group companies secured by the pledge of Dish TV Shares, they said. "It is our apprehension, that anticipating a loss of majority shareholding due, to the invocation of pledged Dish TV shares from bank and other lenders, the aforesaid funds may have been diverted by the promoters for other purposes," the letter said. On the removal of the two existing independent directors, the minority shareholders said, "They have long-term association with Dish TV and Essel group which cast doubt over their independence." Rashmi Aggarwal held directorship in other Essel group entities -- Dish Infra, <keyword id="2682539" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="zee-media" source="Orion">Zee Media</keyword>, and Essel Forex -- till Feb 2019, while <keyword id="17427303" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shankar-agganval" source="Orion">Shankar Agganval</keyword> held directorship in Essel Infraprojects Ltd till November 2018. Essel Infraprojects is a defaulter entity with YES Bank and several other lenders and his association is a "red flag", the notice added. Besides, they have also raised other corporate governance issues and alleged that the board is not acting in line with good corporate governance standards. It does not have a "fair representation" of the incumbent significant shareholders of banks and financial institutions holding 45 per cent shareholding in the company. "The board is purportedly acting at the behest of certain minority shareholders holding merely 4 per cent of the shares in the company," they alleged. Moreover, they also raised concerns over the continuation of Jawahar Lal Goel as additional director after a proposal for his re-appointment as MD was rejected by the shareholders. "It was only after the intervention of the shareholders that he subsequently resigned as additional director," they said. In December last year, shareholders of Dish TV again rejected the proposal for the adoption of audited standalone and consolidated financial statements for FY21 and FY22 in the AGM. Earlier, the shareholders of the Direct-to-Home service provider had rejected the proposals to approve the balance sheet of the company for the last two fiscals in the 34th AGM conducted on September 26, 2022. In June 2022, shareholders in an extraordinary general meeting rejected the proposal for the reappointment of Goel as its managing director. In September, shareholders of Dish TV rejected four resolutions in the AGM, including the adoption of the company's financial statements for FY21 and FY22, and the appointment of independent director Rakesh Mohan. Dish TV shareholders, on December 30, 2021, also rejected all three proposals, including the adoption of financial statements and the reappointment of Ashok Mathai Kurien as director. Goel resigned from the board of the company on September 19. 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Dish TV minority shareholders seek EGM, removal of two independent Directors

<ul><li>The deal, announced in September last year, has received the <keyword id="139820" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="competition-commission" source="Orion">Competition Commission</keyword> of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s nod. </li><li>The deal remains subject to applicable regulatory and other approvals, <keyword id="353090" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="zeel" source="Orion">ZEEL</keyword> said.</li><li>The combined entity will own over 70 TV channels, 2 video streaming services (ZEE5 and <keyword id="6358540" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="sony" source="Orion">Sony</keyword> LIV) and two film studios (<keyword id="3415325" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="zee-studios" source="Orion">Zee Studios</keyword> and Sony Pictures Films India). </li></ul> The Competition Commission on Tuesday gave its conditional approval to the mega-merger deal between Sony and <keyword id="6372205" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="zee" source="Orion">Zee</keyword> that will create one of the largest media groups in the country. The deal, announced in September last year, has received the Competition Commission of India's nod after the regulator accepted "voluntary remedies" proposed by the parties, sources close to the development said. In a tweet, the watchdog said it has cleared the deal with certain modifications. CCI said it has approved the "amalgamation of <keyword id="1417408" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="zee-entertainment-enterprises-limited" source="Orion">Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited</keyword> (ZEEL) and Bangla Entertainment Private Limited (BEPL) with Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited (<keyword id="55015" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cme" source="Orion">CME</keyword>), with certain modifications". Details about the proposed modifications could not be immediately ascertained. CCI had issued show cause notices to the parties after it initially concluded that the deal could have an adverse impact on competition, the sources said. Subsequently, the parties proposed voluntary remedies, which have been accepted by the regulator, they added. ZEEL said CCI has granted the approval in phase-1 after evaluating the official legal and economic submissions made by the company. Most of the deals get cleared by CCI in phase-1 and only if there are serious concerns then the deal concerned is put up for public scrutiny under phase 2. "Considering the immense value which the proposed merger will generate for all its stakeholders, the company has offered the necessary remedies in accordance with the regulator's guidelines," ZEEL said, adding that further details are awaited. On September 7, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had advised the company to convene and conduct the meeting with its shareholders on October 14 to seek their approval for the proposed merger. The deal remains subject to applicable regulatory and other approvals, ZEEL said. In a separate statement, Sony Pictures Networks India said it is delighted to receive CCI approval for the merger. "We will now await remaining regulatory approvals to finally launch the new merged company. The merged company will create extraordinary value for Indian consumers and eventually lead the consumer transition from traditional pay TV into the digital future," it said. Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited was earlier known as Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd. Deals beyond certain thresholds require the approval of CCI, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices and also promotes fair competition in the marketplace. Both parties had entered into a definitive agreement for the deal in December last year and the proposed merger has already received approval from stock exchanges NSE and BSE. ZEEL, in September 2021, said it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with SPNI to bring together their linear networks, digital assets, production operations and programme libraries. The combined entity will own over 70 TV channels, 2 video streaming services (ZEE5 and Sony LIV) and two film studios (Zee Studios and Sony Pictures Films India), making it the largest entertainment network in India, ZEEL said in September last year. Under the deal, there will be amalgamation of ZEE and BEPL with CME. Besides, preferential allotment of certain shares will be made by CME to Sunbright International Holdings Limited, earlier known as Essel Holdings Limited, and Sunbright Mauritius Investments Limited, according to a release issued by CCI. CME is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation (SGC). CME has several general entertainment channels, film, sports and kids' entertainment channels in India. SonyLIV is CME's digital entertainment video service which provides OTT services in India and international markets. CME reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries. BEPL is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SGC and a part of the SGC Group. It is broadly engaged in the acquisition of rights for motion pictures, events and other TV cont ent; and in generating advertising revenue from the telecast of TV content. ZEE is a media and entertainment company, with presence across the segments of broadcasting, digital content, movies, music and live entertainment, spread over 190 countries, as per the release. ZEE5 is the company's digital entertainment video service which provides OTT services in India and international markets. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-to-begin-beta-trial-of-5g-in-four-cities-on-dussehra-with-unlimited-data/articleshow/94645577.cms">Reliance Jio to begin beta trial of 5G in four cities on Dussehra with unlimited data</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/with-950-billionaires-asia-outnumbers-all-other-regions-forbes/articleshow/94644883.cms">With 950 billionaires, Asia outnumbers all other regions: Forbes</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/15-ott-releases-to-watch-this-festive-season-starring-madhuri-dixit-hasan-minhaj-and-more/articleshow/94640843.cms">15 OTT releases to watch this festive season starring Madhuri Dixit, Hasan Minhaj and more</a>

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