Zee Café

Zee
CountryIndia
Broadcast areaIndian subcontinent
HeadquartersMumbai
Programming
Language
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerZee Entertainment Enterprises
Sister channelsSee list of channels owned by ZEEL
History
Launched15 March 2000; 26 years ago (2000-03-15)
Closed1 June 2026; 4 months ago (2026-06-01)
Replaced byUnite8 Sports (India)
Former namesZee English (2000–2005)
Links
Websitewww.zeecafe.tv
Availability - Available on all major Indian DTH & Cables.
Terrestrial
DVB-T2 (India)Check local frequencies
Streaming media
ZEE5SD & HD
Jio TVSD & HD

Zee Cafè (also known as Z Cafè) was an Indian pay television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The channel mainly syndicated popular American and British television shows to appeal to the English-speaking population of India. Since April 1, 2026, the channel has been broadcasting popular sports tournaments (such as ILT20) in Hindi and is set to rebrand under the Zee Sports portfolio. The channel was fully transitioned and replaced with Unite8 Sports 1 (Hindi) on 2 June 2026.

History

Zee Café's logo used from 15 November 2010 to 19 June 2011
Zee Café's logo used from 19 June 2011 to 18 October 2016
Zee Café's logo used from 16 October 2016 to 15 October 2017

Zee English was launched in the Indian subcontinent on 15 March 2000, as competition to Star World. Initially free-to-air, the channel was later encrypted as part of the Zee pay-television bouquet. The launch came when Zee TV started opting for digital signals to provide better signal clarity. It launched alongside Zee Movies; ZEEL had signed agreements with MGM, Pearson, Fremantle, Carlton and Passport International.

The channel underwent a rebranding on 28 March 2005 and was renamed as Zee Café, along with a new logo and promotion deals.

The channel's high-definition feed was launched on 23 September 2015, for a bench test in limited markets and nationwide on 21 November 2015.

The channel ceased its operation as English Entertainment feed alongside its sister channel, &flix, on 31 March 2026. Both of whom were later replaced with Unite8 Sports, serving as Indian home for FIFA World Cup 2026.

International distribution

Zee Café launched on Sky in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 15 July 2010. The channel originally served as the Zee's network hybrid channel, used to broadcast shows from a number of its existing channels in India.

On 11 September 2012, it was repositioned as a classics channel, airing re-runs of old Zee TV and Masala TV programming, covering cookery, dramas, horror and mythology. At the same time the channel became free-to-air.

On 10 June 2013, Zee Café UK was replaced by Lamhé, another free-to-air classics channel from Zee.

Programming

Former programming

Comedy-Drama

Drama

Reality/other

Science Fiction

Superheroes

Sitcoms

Anime

Documentary

See also

References

  1. ↑ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "Zee eyes regional sports, new talent and Indian players after ILT20 push". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Team, indiantelevision com (26 May 2026). "Zee launches Unite8 Sports channels to expand sports play". Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Zee English and Movies launched".
  4. ↑ "Zee embraces Hollywood", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 26, August-October 2000
  5. ↑ "Zee dons a New Look". 28 March 2005.
  6. ↑ "Zee Café to launch Zee Café-HD". 20 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Srivastava, Akansha. "Zee to exit English entertainment; re-enter sports with 4 channels". bestmediainfo.com. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  8. ↑ Team, indiantelevision com (26 May 2026). "Zee launches Unite8 Sports channels to expand sports play". Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "ZEE Cafe launches on Sky Digital EPG". BizAsia. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "ZEE Cafe set to reposition as classics channel". BizAsia. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Lamhe replaces ZEE Cafe in UK". BizAsia. 10 June 2013.[permanent dead link]
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zee Café to premiere five mini-series in its 'Hollywood on Café' content block". Television Post. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "16 Shows you can't miss this Christmas season Zee Café's got you covered this winter with an extensive binge line-up". Indian Television. 26 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "A new prequel to Sex and the Pity!". Hindustan Times. 5 July 2013.[permanent dead link]
  15. ↑ "Hart of Dixie (2011)". TVWish.
  16. ↑ "Zee Cafe launches new show 'Make It or Break It'". 17 January 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Zee Cafe goes Glocal". 2 July 2005.
  18. 1 2 "Zee Cafe brings you a royal parade of shows this July". Adgully. 1 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "No Tomorrow". TVWish.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Zee Café brings in 11 current US season shows to India". exchange4media. 28 September 2007.
  21. 1 2 "Non-stop entertainment this Valentine's week only on Zee Cafe". Adgully. 12 February 2016.
  22. ↑ "Togetherness". TVWish.
  23. ↑ "Ugly Betty". TVWish.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Get High on Zee Cafe this October". 26 September 2011.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Zee Cafe has a vibrant show line-up this December". Indian Television. 27 November 2013.
  26. ↑ "Agent X". TVWish.
  27. ↑ "American Crime". TVWish.
  28. ↑ "The Arrangement". Retrieved 18 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  29. ↑ "Book Adaptations- The Assets". TVWish.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Zee Café content line-up for January 2016". Indian Television. 8 January 2016.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zee Cafe to woo viewers with fact, fiction and fantasy". Indian Television. 9 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Beyond (2018)". TVWish.
  33. ↑ "Zee Cafe showcases new show, 'Body of Proof". 6 April 2011.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Zee Cafe brings back BBC First with 12 shows". Best Media Info. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "All Eyes on New: Zee Cafe unveils new brand positioning". Indian Television. 17 October 2016.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "This April, Zee Café has 'All Eyes on New' with a spectacular line-up of shows". Adgully. 5 April 2018.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Zee Café brings in the festive cheer, premiering new shows and latest seasons with two new content blocks - 'Along with the US' and 'Hollywood on Café'". Indian Television. 9 October 2019.
  38. 1 2 3 "Zee Café launches weeknights block 'Greatest of All Time'". Indian Television. 9 January 2020.
  39. ↑ "Watch as the lines between science and religion begin to blur with 'Evil' Premiering on Zee Cafe". Zee News. 24 June 2020.
  40. ↑ "Eye Candy (2015)". TVWish.
  41. ↑ "Famous in Love (2017)". TVWish.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 "British drama brand, BBC First, consistently performs on Zee Café". Adgully. 24 October 2017.
  43. ↑ "'The Following' Season 4 premieres on 8 March only on Zee Cafe". Adgully. 8 March 2016.
  44. ↑ "'From Darkness' to air on 23 August at 10 PM only on Zee Café". Adgully. 22 August 2017.
  45. 1 2 "Zee Cafe brings in New seasons". Indian Television. 14 October 2005. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020.
  46. ↑ "This April, Zee Café encourages viewers to gear up for 'The Good Fight'". TellyChakkar. 13 April 2020.
  47. ↑ "Zee Café is all set to captivate viewers with The Good Wife". TellyChakkar. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  48. ↑ "Zee Café brings viewers 'Gotham' starting from 23 June". Indian Television. 20 June 2016.
  49. 1 2 3 4 "Zee Cafe's new Rated 'H' shows to captivate millennials". Indian Television. 13 October 2017.
  50. ↑ "Supernatural show Haven faces a Lockdown on Zee Cafe". Adgully. 16 April 2012.
  51. 1 2 3 4 "English medium". Hindustan Times. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  52. ↑ "Marvel's Inhumans (2017)". TVWish.
  53. ↑ "The Kettering Incident (2016)". TVWish.
  54. ↑ "Zee Cafe to kickback with 'Best Comedy and Drama' Tag". Indian Television. 3 November 2004. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020.
  55. 1 2 3 "Zee Café kicks off third season of 'BBC First' block". Television Post. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  56. ↑ "Zee Café beefs up prime time with 'Lost' series". exchange4media. 8 July 2013.
  57. ↑ "The suavest crime solver 'The Mentalist' is back on Zee Café!". The Times of India. 13 March 2015.
  58. 1 2 "Sit back and watch as Zee Café spoils you for options this February". The Times of India. 4 February 2015.
  59. ↑ "Murder in the First". TVWish.
  60. ↑ "Zee Café launches the third season of BBC First with Nawazuddin Siddiqui". The Economic Times. 24 July 2019.
  61. ↑ "Zee Cafe airs the thrilling mystery 'Nancy Drew'". Zee News. 27 May 2020.
  62. ↑ "New Blood". TVWish.
  63. ↑ "Zee Cafe brings The Originals first time in India". Adgully. 6 November 2014.
  64. 1 2 "Zee Cafe presents new reality show 'The Cut'". Indian Television. 9 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020.
  65. ↑ "Watch BBC First drama 'Our Girl' on Zee Café". Adgully. 23 September 2019.
  66. ↑ "Zee Cafe brings 'Penny Dreadful: City of Angels' this July". Zee News. 7 July 2020.
  67. ↑ "Witness the cut-throat rivalry between two media houses with 'Press'". Adgully. 17 September 2019.
  68. ↑ "ZEE CAFE KICKS OFF 'RAISING THE BAR' ON 4 FEB". Indian Television. 2 February 2012.
  69. ↑ "Recovery Road". TVWish.
  70. 1 2 3 4 "Sip on some coolers as Zee Café brings you the best entertainment getaway this April!". The Times of India. 4 April 2015.
  71. ↑ "Zee Cafe raises its entertainment ante with new show, ROOKIE BLUE". Adgully. 11 February 2012.
  72. ↑ "Marvel's Runaways". TVWish. 16 October 2018.
  73. ↑ "'Rush Hour' Television Reboot premieres on Zee Café and Zee Café HD". The Times of India. 13 April 2016.
  74. ↑ "Still Star-Crossed (2017)". TVWish.
  75. ↑ "Time After Time". TVWish.
  76. ↑ "Training Day". TVWish.
  77. ↑ "Wisdom of the Crowd (2017)". TVWish.
  78. ↑ "ZEE CAFE KICKS OFF 'AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS'". Indian Television. 21 August 2009.
  79. 1 2 "Zee Café bolsters line-up with 3 of America's biggest reality shows". Best Media Info. 9 January 2014.
  80. ↑ "American Idol is now playing in India exclusively on Zee Café". Adgully. 17 April 2019.
  81. ↑ "Candid Camera (2014)".
  82. ↑ "Celebrity Family Feud". TVWish.
  83. ↑ "Celebrity Name Game (2014)". TVWish.
  84. ↑ "Drop the Mic". TVWish.
  85. ↑ "Zee Cafe sets the social media space abuzz with 'The EllenDegeneres show'". Adgully. 19 September 2013.
  86. ↑ "Family Food Fight (2017)". TVWish.
  87. ↑ "The Gong Show (1980)". TVWish.
  88. ↑ "Got to Dance (2009)". TVWish.
  89. ↑ "Just for Laugh Gags". TVWish.
  90. ↑ "Live at the Apollo (2015)". TVWish.
  91. ↑ "ZEE Cafe announces 'Love Island UK S3'". Adgully. 18 February 2020.
  92. ↑ "ZEEL English cluster launches #WeStayInCoronaStaysOut campaign". Television Post. 8 April 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  93. ↑ "Zee Cafe is in a full revamp mode". Indian Television. 14 November 2005.
  94. ↑ "Splatalot (2011)". TVWish.
  95. ↑ "Top 20 Funniest Promo". YouTube. 7 July 2017.[dead YouTube link]
  96. ↑ "When Dwayne Johnson got goosebumps". Outlook. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020.
  97. ↑ "The Toy Box (2014)". TVWish.
  98. ↑ "Wheel of Fortune (2002)". TVWish.
  99. ↑ "Zee Café brings BattleBots Season 3 with Breakfast To Bed Binge". Indian Television. 24 December 2019.
  100. ↑ "Colony". TVWish.
  101. ↑ "The Whispers". TVWish.
  102. ↑ "American Housewife". TVWish.
  103. ↑ "This Lockdown, Zee Café Recreates The Fun Times at College with 'Community'". Indian Television.
  104. ↑ "'Everybody Loves Raymond' comes to Zee Café this World Laughter Day". exchange4media. 3 May 2019.
  105. ↑ "The Great Indoors (2016)". TVWish.
  106. ↑ "Zee Café brings the ultimate sitcom of the 60s - 'I Dream of Jeannie'". Adgully. 15 June 2020.
  107. ↑ "Zee Café to launch comedy 'Joey' on 12 July". Indian Television. 10 July 2006.
  108. ↑ "The King of Queens (1998)". Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  109. ↑ "Kevin from Work (2015)". TVWish.
  110. 1 2 "Zee Cafe ushers in the festivities, with three brand new shows, this November". Adgully. 2 November 2015.
  111. ↑ "Mixology (2014)". TVWish.
  112. ↑ "Zee Café's 'Breakfast To Bed Binge' to air 'The Odd Couple' on 31 Dec". Indian Television. 30 December 2019.
  113. ↑ "Rules of Engagement (2007)". TVWish.
  114. ↑ "Watch Seinfeld This May Only on Zee Café". Adgully. 16 May 2020.
  115. ↑ "Trial and Error". TVWish.
  116. 1 2 "Zee Café brings Heroes of Café with Blade and Ironman for Marvel Anime Fans". MTI News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  117. ↑ "Zee Café makes the Anime fever high with Marvel Anime: Wolverine".
  118. ↑ "Zee Café takes the anime fever a notch higher with Valkyria Chronicles". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.