English Entertainment
NGC’s JV with Korea’s CJ Media
MUMBAI: The National Geographic Channel (NGC) has announced that it has signed a multi-million dollar joint venture (JV) deal with CJ Media in Korea. The new JV entity will take over the operations of NGCs existing business in Korea
A company release states that CJ Media currently operates the second largest network of cable and satellite channels in Korea covering the music, movies, lifestyle and the documentary genres. CJ Group, through CJ Cablenet, also owns the third largest MSO in Korea with over one million subscribers.
The JV seeks to leverage the strengths of both parties. NGC provides the programme acquisition, scheduling, content promotion, branding and publicity expertise. CJ Media provides the sales, broadcasting, local programming and marketing resources.
The JV set-up will initially employ six to seven staff members in Korea, responsible for programming, marketing and finance. This team will work closely with CJ Media who will provide services such as broadcasting, transmission, distribution and sales.
The release adds that since the conclusion of the JV NGC’s distribution has jumped from 5.5 million homes to over seven million homes in Korea. Upcoming plans for the channel include the acquisition of local documentaries and increasing marketing activities.
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.
