Zee Network has reversed an internal rule that capped on-screen credits at six names per episode and introduced “rotational credits,” a system that often excluded key writers from billing. The Screenwriters Association intervened after writers reported lost recognition and potential royalty issues. In a formal communication, Zee confirmed immediate restoration of complete writer credits on all its channels and platforms.
Who will always excel in a survival sport? Unfortunately, a screenwriter.
In a major victory for Indian television creators, broadcaster ZEE Network has officially reversed a contentious internal policy that capped on-screen credits and forced writers onto a "rotational credit" system across its national and regional shows.
The reversal follows formal intervention by the Screenwriters Association (SWA) and widespread pushback from affected writers across languages.
Lyricist Raj Shekhar, SWA General Secretary, told THR India that the issue first came to light in early July, when writers noticed an abrupt shift in credit sequences across ZEE network shows, including its digital platform ZEE5.
The network had implemented an internal "six-credits-only" billed as an "organisational mandate".
Under this framework, on-screen credits were strictly limited to six names per episode, which is already a space heavily weighted toward fixed executive positions such as producers, creative producers and directors among others. With non-creative and production titles locked in, writers — who routinely share responsibilities across story, screenplay, episodic writing, and dialogue —were left to split the remaining slots.
To fit the arbitrary six-name limit, ZEE introduced "rotational credits,” SWA explained.
Under this system, a dialogue writer might be credited on a Monday episode without mention of the story or screenplay writers, while a Tuesday episode would credit the screenplay writer while omitting the rest— even if all three contributed to the entire arc.
The internal mandate applied across ZEE's Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and regional programming networks, SWA said. In Hindi television alone, roughly 18 writers were directly impacted, alongside dozens more across regional markets.
According to SWA, beyond stripping authorship, the trade union also felt critical concern over royalty payouts, which are tied to on-screen credits. Omitting a writer's name from an episode would effectively erase their legal trail of authorship and compromise their long-term royalty claims.
On July 20, the Screenwriters Association sent a formal letter to ZEE Network addressing the mandate, backed by signatures from 26 prominent television writers.
Following trade inquiries, ZEE Network changed the policy. In a formal communication sent to the SWA, they confirmed the immediate reinstatement of full writer credits.
Welcoming the resolution, the SWA emphasised the broader significance of defending on-screen billing as a non-negotiable right rather than a corporate courtesy.
In a statement shared with THR India, Raj Shekhar, SWA General Secretary said, “A writer’s credit is not a formality, it is a recognition of authorship and a fundamental professional right. When writers bring genuine concerns to SWA, it is our responsibility to stand with them and seek a fair resolution. That is why SWA took up the issue of rotational credits and formally raised the matter with ZEE Network."
"We welcome ZEE’s decision to reinstate the credits. It is a positive outcome for writers and demonstrates that even difficult issues can be resolved through dialogue. As a union, our role is not to escalate disputes but to find solutions while firmly protecting the rights of screenwriters and lyricists,” he added.
THR India had also reached out to ZEE for an official media response, but there has been no update on the same.