English Entertainment
Ten Sports renews deal with WWE till 2009-end
MUMBAI: Ten Sports has renewed, for another five years, telecast rights for what has been its bread and butter mainstay since its launch in 2002 – World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The Dubai-based sports broadcaster announced today the renewal of its deal to carry the hugely popular WWE content in India and the sub-continent.
The agreement covers more than 2,500 hours of first run programming, including flagship brands Raw and SmackDown!, across the five years of the deal that runs from 1 January, 2005, through to 31 December, 2009. The nine first run hours per week of WWE original programming have become one of the hottest sports properties (after live cricket of course) on Indian television and will be broadcast throughout India and the subcontinent.
We are delighted to extend our very strong relationship with the WWE. Ten Sports experience with the WWE is that the programmes appeal to every demographic sector of our viewer base, including some very surprising ones – such as housewives!Chris McDonald, CEO, Taj Television Ltd, owners of Ten Sports was quoted in an official release as saying.
Ten Sports also anounced plans to spruce up the WWE programmes with various innovative promotions in the near future. We look forward to building up on the WWE property by introducing new and innovative promotional angles around the programmes,McDonald said.
Ten Sports will also continue with its popular WWE contests, which offers an opportunity to the fans to watch live WWE action in the United States of America.
Aside from RAW and SmackDown!, the contract also includes the telecast of other popular shows Heat, Velocity, The Bottom Line, After Burn and The WWE Experience – as well as 14 annual special television events.
Commenting on the new deal, Andrew Whitaker, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, WWE International Television said WWE s relationship with Ten Sports goes back to July 2001, and we are delighted to enter into a new five-year relationship with them. WWE programming ideally complements Ten Sports first class cricket offering and is undoubtedly one of the most sought after sports entertainment rights in India.
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.
