English Entertainment
Celebrate Christmas with Times Hollywood Network’s blockbuster premiere of The Addams Family
MUMBAI: The festive season calls for uninterrupted family time and what better way to celebrate it with an animated family comedy movie with your loved ones. Presenting viewers a perfect opportunity to cherish their Christmas weekend, Times Network English Entertainment channels, Movies Now, MNX, Romedy Now and MN+ is all set to simulcast the Indian Television premiere of the macabre comedy, The Addams Family, this Sunday, 27 December at 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm respectively.
Directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, The Addams Family (2019) is a modernized animated version consisting of a star-studded voice cast like Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Fin Wolfhard among others. Continuing the immortal legacy of the iconic family, the movie brings the celebrated spooky characters of Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester and Grandma back to life. Based on the quintessential franchise which was a television show in the 1960s, a hit animated series in the early 1970s, and a live-action movie franchise in the 1990s, the contemporary adaptation follows the Addams as they move to New Jersey where they forcefully adapt to the twenty-first century. But trouble soon arises when shady TV personality Margaux Needler realizes that the Addams eerie hilltop mansion is standing in the way of her dream to sell all the houses in the neighbourhood. The movie explores the ghoulish details of the Addam’s and the endearing sweetness of their dynamic relationship in today’s era.
A sequel, The Addams Family 2 with Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan returning to direct, is scheduled to release in October 2021.
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.
