1992: Birth of an Indian broadcast company

Subhash Chandra Goel, a rice trader from Hisar, launches private satellite channel Zee TV on 1 October 1992 by leasing out transponder on AsiaSat owned by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li‘s Star TV.

The company was originally incorporated as Empire Holdings Ltd on 25 November,1982 which was later changed to Zee Telefilms Limited with effect from 8 September, 1992 following its entry into the business of entertainment software.

1993:  Zee goes public

Zee Telefilms files for an IPO in September 1993, wherein 8.2 million equity shares of 10 each were offered to the public at a premium of 20 per share. The Company was listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on 25 November, 1993 becoming the first listed media company in the country. The move marked the beginning of Zee‘s transformation into an integrated media company with satellite broadcasting, cable and direct-to-home besides print and new media.

1994: Ventures into music and education

Zee Records, the music-publishing arm of Zee, commences operations. The company also forays into education sector with the launch of Zee Education as a division of the company.

1995: The year of Big Bang expansion

Entry into cable distribution

Zee ventures into cable distribution with wholly-owned subsidiary Siticable Networks which commenced operations as an MSO in Delhi. The year also sees the biggest ever tie-up in the Indian broadcast industry with media baron Rupert Murdoch‘s News Corp buying 50 per cent stake into Siticable.

Channel launches

The company launches two more channels - Hindi news channel Zee News and Hindi movie channel Zee Cinema.

International debut

Zee TV goes global with launch in United Kingdon to tap into the Indian diaspora

1996:  African safari

Zee TV launched in Africa on MultiChoice digital platform

First cable channel

Siti Channel launches as the first cable channel in India relaying movies and local content.

1997:  Music channel launch

Music Asia launched later rebranded as Zee Music and is known as Zing in its present avataar.

1998: America calling

Zee TV USA launched offering cricket and Bollywood films to the large Indian dispora in that country. Zee Cine Awards dedicated to award excellence in the Hindi film industry instituted.

1999:  Divorce with News Corp and regional foray

The four-year-old partnership with Rupert Murdoch breaks as Zee buys News Corps 50 per cent stake in Asia Today, Siticable and Programme Asia Trading Company.

Launch of regional channels

The company announced its entry into the vast regional market with the launch of four umbrella channels under the umbrella brand of Alpha, namely Alpha Marathi, Alpha Bangla, Alpha Punjabi and Alpha Gujarato.

The company also launches English entertainment channels to broaden its product offering. Zee English and Zee Movies launched.

During the year, the education division of the company was demerged and transferred to a separate subsidiary company namely, Zee Interactive Learning Systems Ltd.

In September 1999, the company acquired Zee Multimedia Worldwide thereby bringing the international operations including the broadcasting business of ZMWL under the company‘s control.

2000:  Asian expansion and distribution ventures with Viacom and MGM
Launches Internet over Cable services - Becomes first cable company in India to do so. Enters into content distribution joint ventures with MGM and Viacom and launches pay bouquet of channels in the Asian region.

2001:  Experiment with film production
The company enters film production with Gadar: Ek Prem Katha by funding the film produced by old Zee hand Nitin Keni. The film went on to shatter box office records by becoming the highest grosser film of its time.

2002:  ETC acquisition

The company got a foothold into Punjabi language market with the acquisition of a controlling stake in ETC Networks Ltd, a company engaged in production, marketing and distribution of two television channels with a leading presence in Music and Punjabi language segment.

2003:  Launch of niche channels

Launches five new channels for the DTH market viz. Action cinema, Classic cinema, MX, Premier cinema and Smile TV. Launches a premium fashion and style channel Trendz targeted at the fashion conscious Indian consumer.

Enters into a distribution tie-up with Rajshri Pictures for theatrical distribution of films in India.

2004:  Direct-to-Home entry

Dish TV, India‘s first direct-to-home platform launched

2005: Zee pads up, gets into sports broadcasting

Zee Sports launched to provide a multi-genre sports entertainment package to the viewers

2006: Zee Telefilms demerged

Zee demerges cable distribution and regional channels by creating two new entities Siti Cable and Zee News Limited.

In November 2006, Zee Sports International Ltd, Mauritius, acquired 50 per cent stake in Dubai-based Taj TV Ltd, Mauritius, which owned ‘Ten Sports‘ channel. Also, the company acquired 50 per cent stake with majority representation in the board in Taj Television India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai which is the distribution arm of Ten Sports in India.

2007:  Change in corporate identity and launch of ICL

Zee Telefilms renamed as Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel).

Peeved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India‘s high handedness while awarding broadcast rights for cricket, Chandra cocks a snook by launching Indian Cricket League thereby forcing the BCCI to come out with its own T20 league, the Indian Premier League.

2010:  Ups stake in Taj TV

Zee takes full control of Taj TV by acquiring 45 per cent stake in the company and taking its holding to 95 per cent
Launches Ten Cricket - a dedicated 24-hour Cricket Channel, Ten Action+ - sports channel showcasing the best football action from around the world

Launches India.com - Joint Venture between Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and Mail.com Media Corporation

Launches Zee Khana Khazana ? India‘s first 24-hour food channel and Zee Salaam - India‘s first Urdu infotainment satellite television channel

2011:  Distribution JV with Star

In order to plug the massive leakage of revenues in distribution, Zee joins hands with Star India to launch Media Pro, a 50/50 JV.

2012: First Over-the-Top platform
Launches Ditto TV - India‘s first and only OTT (Over-The-Top TV) Distribution Platform. Launches Ten Golf ? India‘s first and exclusive 24 hour Golf channel

MUMBAI: News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch and his son James Murdoch, who is the deputy COO of the company, have seen their annual bonuses decline courtesy the phone hacking scandal, which led to shutting of News of the World newspaper, multi-million dollar suits, arrest of top officials and deferred bid to buyout BSkyB.

As per regulatory filings, News Corp has determined to award only half of the qualitative portion of the annual bonuses for four top executives namely Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch, David DeVoe and Chase Carey for the fiscal year 2012.

The company?s 81-year-old chairman and chief executive had earned a bonus of $10.4 million in 2012, while his son James earned a bonus of $5 million. As per the filing, Jr Murdoch had declined to take his $6 million bonus in fiscal year 2011 as a result of the hacking scandal.

Overall, Rupert Murdoch?s total compensation too declined for the fiscal year to just over $30 million against $33.3 million in 2011. However, son James? total compensation increased from $11.9 million in 2011 to $16.8 million in the 2012 fiscal.

News Corp Senior EVP and Chief Financial Officer David DeVoe and deputy chairman, president and COO Chase Carey had received an annual bonus of $4.17 million and $8.3 million respectively.

MUMBAI: Lachlan Murdoch, the eldest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has invested $102.7 million in DMG Radio Australia to purchase the remaining 50 per cent stake in the company that was owned by UK media conglomerate Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT).

Lachlan had in November 2009 bought 50 per cent stake in the company through Illyria Investment. DMG Radio Australia operates commercial radio networks in metropolitan and regional areas of Australia.

"We are pleased to move to 100 per cent ownership of DMG Radio Australia," Lachlan said in a statement.

"When we acquired our 50 per cent interest in DMGRA in November 2009 we set out to create one of Australia?s leading media companies. Over the past three years, working alongside DMGRA?s wonderful staff, we have successfully implemented our growth strategy."

"In that time Nova has regained its position as the number one national network for people 18-39 and we have successfully launched SmoothFM. The EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) of DMGRA has doubled and the IRR (internal rate of return) on our initial investment is more than 60 per cent.

"We have great confidence in the continuing potential of radio, great confidence in the management team we have built under Cathy O?Connor, and look forward to further growing DMGRA in the coming years."

MUMBAI: News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch has defended British tabloid The Sun?s decision to publish nude pictures of Prince Harry claiming that doing so was necessary to demonstrate lack of "press freedom" in UK.

The issue has raised a stink ever since it was published on Friday sparking criticism from public and politicians alike. In fact, the Press Complaints Commission has received more than 850 complaints from public against The Sun for publishing the pictures.

It is believed that the members of Royal family had asked the PCC to request media not to publish those pictures to which the latter agreed and none of the British newspapers used it. However, on Friday The Sun at the behest of its owner Rupert Murdoch decided to publish those pictures thereby causing embarrasment to St James?s Palace.

No sooner the pictures appeared it kicked up a storm with many questioning the motive behind the move. Many also argued that publishing pictures were an invasion of privacy and one that doesn?t serve any public interest.

According to one school of thought in the British press, the move was Murdoch?s way of warning his critics (read Lord Justice Leveson) who is probing the phone hacking scandal at the now defunct News of the World.

However, Murdoch is unperturbed by the criticism and the media baron took to Twitter to defend the The Sun, "Needed to demonstrate no such thing as free press in the UK. Internet makes mockery of these issues. 1st amendment please."

Murdoch?s defiance notwithstanding fears are being raised that The Sun?s actions will give a reason to Lord Justice Leveson to come down harder on press.

He later came out in defence of Prince Harry saying people should give him a break. "Prince Harry. Give him a break. He may be on the public payroll one way or another, but the public loves him, even to enjoy Las Vegas," Murdoch said somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

MUMBAI: British Member of Parliament and senior Labour politician Harriet Harman has launched a frontal attack on media baron Rupert Murdoch calling on Britian?s political class to forge unity to break up the Murdoch family?s media empire.

The MP also called for setting tighter limits for media ownership once Lord Justice Leveson?s report into press standards is published in order to limit Murdoch?s power saying that the "we can?t wind up leaving the problem of media ownership untouched".

Harman?s comments came as Murdoch?s daughter Elisabeth was preparing to deliver the MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television festival.

Incidentally, Rupert Murdoch?s younger son James Murdoch?s MacTaggart Lecture in 2009 when he criticised the BBC and Ofcom for undermining free market.

It shows the influence of one family that two members within three years get to deliver this lecture," Harnan lamented.

She said News Corp, the owner of The Times and The Sun, with a 37 per cent market share owned too much of the media for a single publisher.

News Corp?s UK assets include News International the publisher of The Sun and The Sunday Times, British Sky Broadcasting where it holds 39.1 per cent and British broadcast television network ITV where he has 7.5 per cent interest.

MUMBAI: Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corporation?s annual net income fell 55.55 per cent to $1.2 billion from $2.7 billion reported in the prior year.

The company?s bottom line was hit due to a $3 billion pre-tax impairment and restructuring charge primarily related to the company?s publishing businesses.

Earlier, this year News Corp had announced that it will separate its profitable television and entertainment business from the publishing, which has been a strain on its bottom line.

Cable networks underpinned by strong growth at regional sports networks including ESPN Star Sports and international cable networks which includes Star India was the only silver lining for the battered media conglomerate at a time when it was through its most difficult phase due to phone hacking scandal.

News Corp?s reported annual revenue of $33.7 billion, 1 per cent increase over the $33.4 billion of revenue reported a year ago. The annual revenue increase was led by 14 per cent growth at the company?s Cable Network Programming segment, partially offset by declines primarily at the company?s Publishing and Other segments.

The Company reported annual total segment operating income of $5.4 billion compared to $4.9 billion reported a year ago. This increase was driven by operating income improvements at nearly all of the Company?s segments, led by a $535 million increase at the Cable Network Programming segment and a $205 million increase at the Filmed Entertainment segment.

These improvements were partially offset by decreases at the Publishing segment, reflecting advertising weakness at the international newspaper and integrated marketing services businesses, and the absence of contributions from The News of the World.

The full year results included a $224 million charge related to the costs of the ongoing investigations initiated upon the closure of The News of the World. The prior year results included a $125 million charge at the Company?s integrated marketing services business related to the settlement of litigation.

Excluding these charges from both years, respectively, this year?s adjusted total segment operating income of $5.6 billion increased 13 per cent, from $5 billion in the prior year.

News Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch said: ?We are proud of the full year financial growth achieved over the last twelve months, led by our Cable Network Programming and Filmed Entertainment segments. Not only did we execute on our operating plan and deliver on our financial targets, we returned over $5 billion to shareholders through an aggressive buyback program and dividends. In addition, significant progress has been made in opportunistically addressing the Company?s non-consolidated assets, as demonstrated by the purchase of Fox Pan American Sports, the sale of NDS and the announced intention to purchase the remaining ownership stake of ESPN Star Sports and Consolidated Media Holdings.

?Our Company has continued to innovate, grow and consistently adapt to the rapidly changing media industry landscape. We find ourselves in the middle of great change, driven by shifts in technology, consumer behavior, advertiser demands and economic uncertainty and change brings about great opportunity. News Corporation is in a strong operational, strategic and financial position, which should only be enhanced by the proposed separation of the media and entertainment and publishing businesses.?

During the fiscal, News Corp had consolidated its ownership stakes in affiliate companies by purchasing Fox Pan American Sports and announcing the intent to purchase the remaining ownership stake of ESPN Star Sports, and Consolidated Media Holdings. The company along with private equity firm Permira sold pay-TV encryption company NDS to Cisco in a $5bn deal.

Full Year Company Results

Cable Network Programming

Cable Network Programming reported annual segment operating income of $3.3 billion, a 19 per cent increase over the prior year, driven by a 14 per cent increase in revenue. Operating income contributions from the domestic channels increased 21 per cent, underpinned by growth at the Regional Sports Networks (RGNs), Fox News Channel and the FX Network. The Company?s international cable channels grew earnings 16 per cent, reflecting strong growth in Latin America and Asia.

Affiliate revenue growth of 12 per cent at the domestic cable channels primarily reflects higher rates at all domestic networks, led by growth at the RSNs and Fox News Channel. International cable channels? affiliate revenues increased 27 per cent over the prior year. Nearly two-thirds of the international increase primarily reflects organic growth at the Fox International Channels in Latin America and Asia, with the remaining portion of the international affiliate revenue growth attributable to the consolidation of the Fox Pan American Sports network.

Advertising revenue at the domestic cable channels grew 9 per cent in fiscal 2012 over the prior year, reflecting growth at nearly all domestic networks led by growth at the FX Network, Fox News Channel and the National Geographic Channels. The international cable channels? advertising revenue grew 13 per cent over the prior year, primarily due to improving advertising markets and viewership trends in Latin America, Asia and India.

In fiscal 2012, expenses at Cable Network Programming grew 11 per cent over the prior year, due to increased programming costs including rights fees for the launch of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as increased expenses associated with the consolidation of the Fox Pan American Sports network and the launch of new sports networks in Brazil and San Diego.

Filmed Entertainment

Full year segment operating income increased $205 million, or 22 per cent, over the prior year to $1.1 billion. The growth was driven by a strong release slate including the successful worldwide theatrical and home entertainment performances of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and The Descendants, and home entertainment performances of Rio, X-Men: First Class and Mr. Popper?s Penguins. The year also benefitted from increased operating profit at the television production studios led by the growth of digital distribution revenue from the licensing of content to Netflix and Amazon, as well as an increase in license fees for How I Met Your Mother.

Television

Full year segment operating income of $706 million, increased $25 million versus a year ago. The increase was driven by a doubling of retransmission consent revenues, partially offset by lower political advertising revenue at the local television stations and the absence of the prior year?s broadcast of the National Football League Super Bowl XLV. Excluding the impact of the Super Bowl broadcast, national advertising revenues increased over the prior year reflecting the stronger fall schedule led by The X-Factor and New Girl being partially offset by lower American Idol ratings.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

Sky Italia generated annual segment operating income of $254 million, a $22 million, or 9 per cent, increase compared to the prior year. The improvement was due to lower programming costs resulting from the absence of Fifa World Cup costs and lower marketing costs related to the prior year?s rebranding campaign. Local currency revenue for the year was consistent with the prior year. Sky Italia?s year-end subscriber base declined to 4.9 million due to the net reduction of approximately 71,000 subscribers during the year, reflecting the continued challenging economic environment in Italy.