MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has entered into a joint venture with US-based digital media company Mail.com Media Corporation (MMC) to launch an online and mobile entertainment portal.

The company has appointed Arvindra Singh Kanwal, who has 23 years of experience in business strategy, marketing, sales and operations, as the CEO of the joint venture. He has worked Hindustan Unilever, Sony Entertainment Television, Indian Express Online Media Ltd and Rediff.com.
 
The JV company is launching a content-centric portal will offer users a broad range of entertainment viewing options and other leading portal applications. The launch date and name of the site, however, are yet to be disclosed.

Says Zeel CEO and MD Punit Goenka, “This partnership comes at the right time as India’s inclination towards digital entertainment is increasing. Being pioneers in the media and entertainment sector in India, it is most natural for us to provide wholesome entertainment to our viewers. With the launch of this portal, we will reinforce Zeel as the one-stop destination in entertainment.”

MMC, founded by Jay Penske in 2004, owns and operates the Mail.com email service and portal, a global multi-media platform. In addition, MMC owns a portfolio of lifestyle brands that provide original content in categories including entertainment, sports, breaking news, media, finance, health, beauty, shopping, fashion and automotive. 
 
Says Penske, “We are thrilled to be entering India through this long-term partnership with Zee Entertainment-and look forward to leveraging our digital capabilities and content, to enable the portal to meet the evolving online and mobile needs of audiences at this exciting time within the media landscape of India.”

Some of the brands of MMC portfolio include Mail.com, Hollywoodlife, OnCars, Movieline, Deadline, Fan, Young Hollywood Awards, Hollywood Style Awards, Fashion Rocks, Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards and Breakthrough of the Year Awards.