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Zee to launch VSAT-based interactive education centers

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CIOL Bureau
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NEW DELHI: As part of its ambitious program for integrating the various media

to aid its education initiative, Zee Interactive Learning Systems will launch

Zee Livewires, the VSAT-based centers of learning that would enable real-time

interaction between students and teachers.

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President and CEO of Zee Interactive Learning Systems Uma Ganesh said,

"The aim of these centers is to bring to the students the best talent

available in teaching." The program envisages the setting up of such

centers in 50 locations across the country during this financial year. Most of

these centers would be set up through the franchisee route, where the network

will be set up by Zee, and the VSAT equipment at the receiving end will be

installed by the franchisee. The company is in the process of finalizing its

franchisees and expects the centers to be operational by the end of June or the

beginning of July.

Zee Livewire is the result of the group’s efforts towards maximizing its

resources to bring about this convergence in education. First, it had

concentrated on setting up education centers across the country and building up

the brand, Zed Careers.

Now the company is focusing on integrating the various media in furthering

its education program. It plans to launch an education portal, Zeelearn.com, and

a 24-hour TV channel called Z TV, which will focus on providing education-based

programs. The education portal will be horizontal, targeting the youth, the

older generation, women and the corporate sector. The TV channel would aim at

providing education, which would not necessarily be academic in nature but about

life in general. The programs would be both informative and entertaining.

The company plans to invest Rs 100 crore in expansion this year. Most of the

funds will go towards its portal and the new channel. Over the next five years,

Zee expects these two streams to yield a revenue of Rs 500 crore.

Speaking about the portal initiative Ganesh said, "It’s not just

distance learning we are aiming at. It’s the kind of courses we shall provide.

For instance, we have found that courses on being a detective are hard to come

by. Interaction with security agencies has revealed that it is difficult to find

trained people for this job. So we aim to focus on such niche slots."

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