MUMBAI: Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra has announced the creation of a $250 million content development, production, co-production and acquisition fund for Veria Living, the network devoted to showcasing wellness programming and related content across multiple media platforms.

Chandra said that the establishment of the $250 million fund is yet another step in Zee Groups? strategic five-year plan to further expand Veria Living?s presence in the US and beyond as the go-to-source for all things health and wellness.

?We are firmly committed to growing the Veria brand across television, Internet, mobile and OTT platforms. By focusing on original content development and production we?re not only looking to build a broad US audience for Veria Living, but also setting the table for the expansion of the brand globally over the next couple of years,? he said.

Veria Living claims of offering the world?s largest line-up of first-run, original programming ? connecting viewers in a contemporary and accessible manner to the benefits and joys of living a healthy lifestyle.

The New York-headquartered Veria Living television network is available throughout the US on Dish Network, Verizon FiOS and Frontier Communications subscribers.

Veria.com, the website, complements the network by extending the Veria Living philosophy through online recipes and nutrition, holistic health tips, body-mind conditioning and all-natural products.

The news comes on the heels of Veria?s recent announcement regarding its new primetime programming line-up, launch of its new comprehensive website (www.Veria.com) and rebranding as Veria Living scheduled for a January 2012 premiere. The network also recently unveiled a new lifecycle logo combining Eastern influence with Western design (sunshine yellow and tangerine orange) and its new tagline ? ?Go Well?.

Veria Living and Zee TV suite of Indian language channels are managed in the US by Asia TV USA and overseen by its CEO Suresh Bala Iyer. Iyer said, ?We not only want to appeal to our core 35-44 Adult and 25-54 Women demos, but to all Americans who are looking to lead healthier lives. Veria Living helps them to achieve this by passionately advocating for quality and vitality of life by following proven wellness and nutritional activities. This fund will go a long way towards helping us to achieve our goals while creating the most entertaining content possible that fits our mission.?

Chandra founded Veria as way to promote wellness to the West, was in New York to receive the 2011 International Emmy Directorate Award.

MUMBAI: Zee will simulcast the 61st edition of Miss World across three of its network channels.

Miss World 2011, scheduled to take place in London on 6 November, will air on Zee Caf?, Zee Studio, Zee Trendz at 10 :30 pm.

The event will also air on Zing in Hindi at a later date.

Alexandria Mills of the US will crown her successor at the end of the event. Kanishtha Dhankhar, crowned Miss India World, will represent India at the global pageant.

Apart from the Miss World 2011 award, the various categories of awards to be won include Miss World Top Model, Miss World Beach Beauty, Miss World Talent, Miss World Sports, Beauty With A Purpose (Miss World Scholarship), Best World Dress Designer (Spectacular Evening Wear), Miss Photogenic, Best National Costume (Spectacular National Dress), Miss Personality, Spectacular Swimwear, Miss People?s Choice and Miss Contestants? Choice.

Zee Caf? has sketched out a major marketing campaign to promote Miss World 2011. Heavy on-air promotion is designed across Zee Network and other youth channels. Various off-air media has been tapped to reach out to the target audience. OOH media channels like Theatre Slides, Hoardings, Digital Screens have been employed to promote visibility.

Zee Network business head niche channels Anurag Bedi said, "Zee Cafe will be bringing Miss World, live, to Indian audiences for the fourth consecutive year. We are glad that our association with The Miss World Organization is getting strong every passing year. We recently aired Miss Universe and will be bringing the Billboard Music Awards 2011 later this month. With Miss World, we once again reiterate our commitment towards bringing acclaimed international events to our viewers in India."

The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the UK by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley?s wife, Julia Morley, co-chairs the pageant. Alongside its rival Miss Universe and Miss Earth contests, this pageant is one of the most publicized beauty contests in the world. The winner spends a year traveling to represent the Miss World Organization and its various causes. Traditionally, Miss World lives in London during her reign.

The Miss World Organization owns and manages the annual Miss World Finals, a competition that has grown into one of the World?s biggest.
Miss World is franchised in more than 100 countries.