Zee Telugu is set to strengthen its weekend entertainment lineup with the launch of two major properties — the return of its popular children’s reality show ‘Drama Juniors Season 9’ and the World Television Premiere of action drama ‘Champion’. The channel is aiming to bring a mix of family entertainment, young talent and cinema-driven content to audiences across Telugu-speaking markets.

According to the channel announcement, ‘Drama Juniors’ continues to remain one of Telugu television’s most recognised children’s reality formats. Over the years, the show has built a strong audience base among family viewers while also serving as a platform for young performers who later moved into films and television projects.

The ninth season of the show is set to premiere first on ZEE5 from May 21, before making its television debut on Zee Telugu from May 23. The show will air every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm. The new season promises fresh performances, emotional storytelling and entertainment-driven competition featuring talented children from across the region.

Popular television personality Sudheer returns as the host of the show, while the judging panel includes filmmaker Anil Ravipudi, actor Roja and senior actor Srikanth. The channel said the combination of cinematic insight, humour, mentorship and emotional interactions is expected to add greater appeal to the latest season.

Alongside the reality show launch, Zee Telugu has also lined up the World Television Premiere of ‘Champion’, starring Roshan Meka and Anaswara Rajan. Positioned as an action-packed family entertainer, the film has already generated interest among younger audiences for its storytelling and performances. The movie is scheduled to air on Sunday at 5:30 PM exclusively on Zee Telugu.

With a mix of reality entertainment and a television movie premiere, Zee Telugu is looking to strengthen its position in the weekend entertainment space while targeting family audiences and younger viewers alike. The channel’s latest programming strategy reflects the growing demand for regional content that blends talent-driven formats with mainstream cinematic entertainment.