Sling TV adds 27 new OTT channels from Zee

US over-the-top service Sling TV will launch 27 new channels from Indian entertainment company Zee as part of a renewed agreement between the firms.

Sling will add channels such as &TV, Living Foodz, Zee Bangla, Zee Tamizh and Zee Cinema HD to its line-up, with the 27 networks joining the 10 Zee-branded channels already offered on Sling TV and its parent company DISH. Of the 27 new Zee channels, nine will be carried on DISH.

As part of the deal Sling and DISH will also be the exclusive US providers of Zee’s premium on-demand library, which includes movies and more than 400 additional video titles.

Sling TV said that over time it will become the exclusive OTT provider in the US for all but one of Zee’s South Asian channels, with Zee set to transition viewers from its direct-to-consumer services to Sling TV or to authenticated-access only in the coming months.

“Our agreement with Zee enables us to provide a vast amount of entertainment to fans of South Asian content, while also giving customers a more streamlined way to access and enjoy both linear and on-demand content,” said Chris Kuelling, senior vice president of programming for Sling TV and DISH.

Sameer Targe, business head, Zee Americas added: “DISH has been a natural partner and ally for the last 18 years, and Sling TV is by far the most comprehensive OTT service available to our target audience.”

Sling TV and DISH are launching a new ‘Hindi Gold Pack’, which will contain all of the Zee Hindi channels, plus other leading Hindi channels.

DISH and Sling TV will add two Spanish-language channels, Z Living Español and Zee TV Español, and two Brazilian channels, Zee TV Portuguese and Z Living Portuguese, to their respective line-ups.

Arabic channels Zee Alwan and Zee Aflam will also launch in the DISH Arabic Super Elite and the Arabic Mosaic Pack on Sling TV.