English Entertainment
‘Game of Thrones’ actor Daniel Portman to attend Bangalore Comic Con
NEW DELHI: Actor Daniel Portman, who has starred in the HBO series Games of Thrones, will be among those attending the Comic Con India in Bangalore.
This is for the first time that Comic Con India is bringing in an international actor as a special guest to Bangalore.
Mark Gatiss, actor, co-creator and executive producer of BBC’s hit series Sherlock attended Mumbai Film and Comic Con 2014 in December.
Bangalore Comic Con 2015 will be held at White Orchid Convention Centre from 3 to 5 April.
Portman is a Scottish actor, born in Glasgow. He earned an HNC in acting and performing at Reid Kier College in Paisley, Scotland. His first role was as Paul in the 2010 supernatural thriller film Outcast alongside Game of Thrones‘ actors James Cosmo and Kate Dickie. Following Outcast he appeared in the Scottish comedy film The Angel’s Share.
It was in 2011 when it was announced that Portman would be playing Podrick Payne in HBO’s adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. Podrick is the loyal squire to Tyrion Lannister and has appeared in the show since its second season. Portman will be returning to the series’ fifth season.
Portman said, “I am very excited to be coming to Bangalore for Bangalore Comic Con in April. I am looking forward to meeting my Indian fans and having a great weekend.”
He will be a part of special sessions and talk about his character in the show and will answer the questions from fans about both previous seasons and the forthcoming season, which premieres a week after the event. Also, he will sign exclusive posters for the fans at the convention.
Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma said, “We wanted to give GOT fans in the city something to look forward to, and Daniel’s presence is one of the many things we have planned this year!”
Another main attraction at Bangalore Comic Con 2015 will be Game of Thrones’ special Photo-op Booth. Comic Con India has officially tied up with HBO to bring the Throne replica exclusively at Bangalore Comic Con. There will be a Throne replica at the special photo – op booth where fans and visitors can get their pictures clicked.
Season 5 of Game of Thrones is premiering in India on 13 April, within 24 hours of the US premiere on HBO Defined, 100 per cent ad-free, followed by other episodes on subsequent Mondays at the same time.
English Entertainment
ZEE5 UK partners Narrative Entertainment to add UK channels
Six FAST channels added as platform sharpens hybrid play in Britain
LONDON: ZEE5 UK struck a first-of-its-kind deal with Narrative Entertainment, bringing mainstream UK television channels onto an Indian streaming platform as it pushes to deepen its footprint in a crowded, mature market.
The partnership adds six of Narrative’s FAST channels to the service, including Great! Movies, Great! Romance, Great! Mystery and kids brands POP, Tiny Pop and POP UP, widening ZEE5 UK’s appeal across genres and age groups.
The move reflects a clear shift in strategy. ZEE5 UK is betting on a hybrid model that blends on-demand content with curated, always-on channels to drive discovery and increase time spent on the platform.
“This partnership represents a meaningful evolution in how we serve audiences in mature markets like the UK, where viewers are defined by habits, convenience and choice rather than geography or language alone,” said Parul Goel, territory head, Europe, Zee Entertainment. “By bringing trusted mainstream UK channels together with our premium originals, movies and kids’ content, we are building a more consumer-centric platform that simplifies viewing while increasing depth and relevance.”
Fateha Begum, commercial director, Narrative Entertainment, said the tie-up would fuel growth for both sides. “Our portfolio of quality programming, with such wide and enduring appeal, is a perfect complement to ZEE5 UK. This is a strong partnership that will support growth for both parties, and we share Zee Entertainment’s vision of an increasingly partnership-led future for the industry.”
ZEE5’s global library spans over 4,000 films and more than 500 originals, with over 130 new titles added annually. The addition of Narrative’s channels strengthens its kids offering and introduces genre-led linear experiences alongside its on-demand catalogue.
The deal also gives Narrative access to ZEE5 UK’s fast-growing user base, extending reach without diluting brand identity, while reinforcing ZEE5 UK’s network of more than 40 live channels.
As streaming wars intensify, ZEE5 UK is widening its playbook, blending content, convenience and partnerships in a bid to win screen time in one of the world’s toughest markets.
