MUMBAI: As part of its global expansion plan, Times Television Network has signed a distribution deal with Zuku Cable and DTH for launching the channels in African countries.

The three channels - English general news channel Times Now, business news channel ET Now and Zoom (Bollywood entertainment channel) - will now be available in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and other countries of Sub Saharan East and Central Africa.
 
The channels will be accessible on Zuku Cable and DTH, owned by Wananchi Group Holdings Ltd. The company has major media and telecom holdings in East Africa region. Zuku Cable is spread over 10 countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The group is planning to launch the three channels across the countries having a South Asian population and is in talks with different service providers for this purpose, a senior company executive said..

Earlier, in July, Times Group had launched Times Now and Zoom in Australia and New Zealand on Vision Asia, the independent multi-channel pay television platform.

Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL) MD Vineet Jain said, “Having successfully targeted the South Asian community based in Australia and New Zealand a few months back and in keeping with the objective of building our brands internationally, we have now ventured into Africa. With Zuku Cable we will now be able to serve the entertainment and news needs of the South Asian diaspora residing in Sub-Saharan Central and East Africa. We are excited to be part of this emerging market opportunity.” 
 
Zuku Cable currently has over 15,000 households on its platform and it claims to grow 300,000 subscribers in next few years. Times Now, ET Now, and Zoom will be packaged as a part of the basic pack on Zuku Cable.