English Entertainment
The Irwin Family -Terri, Bindi and Robert – come home to Animal Planet in ‘CRIKEY! IT’S THE IRWINS’ which premiers in India on November 15 at 9 PM IST
MUMBAI: Lace up your boots because you’re about to embark on the journey of a lifetime with the family that’s bringing khaki back! The Irwins – Terri, Bindi and Robert – return to Animal Planet in a new series that gives audiences an all-access, front row seat to experience the sights and sounds of their thrilling wildlife adventures around the globe and the amazing animals that continue to inspire their conservation efforts. From running Australia’s largest family-owned zoo, Australia Zoo in Queensland, to crisscrossing the world protecting and celebrating the most wondrous animals on the planet, The Irwins work thoughtfully and tirelessly to carry on Steve’s mission to bring people closer to animals and ignite the connection that will ensure an abundance of wildlife for generations to come. CRIKEY! IT’S THE IRWINS launches as a global series premiere in Indian on November 15 at 9pm IST. Animal Planet India will showcase a special series ‘Crocodile Hunter: The Best of Steve Irwin’ every weekend (8-10 PM) in the month of November as a tribute to the legendary Steve Irwin.
CRIKEY! IT’S THE IRWINS features the Irwins working together to care for more than 1,200 animals at Australia Zoo; overseeing a world class wildlife hospital, the largest of its kind in the world; and conducting high-octane global expeditions. Animal Planet audiences ride along with Terri as she propels Steve’s conservation mission forward, which has included expanding the once two-acre Australia Zoo into a world-class 750+-acre zoo with 105 acres open to the public. Bindi, now 20 years old, focuses her passion for animals at Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital, Australia’s best equipped wildlife treatment facility which rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick, injured, or orphaned native wildlife. Robert demonstrates a curiosity, deep knowledge and expertise for all the animals around him, as well as an infectious enthusiasm to share this experience with others; a memorable trait often showcased by his father.
In the season premiere of CRIKEY! IT’S THE IRWINS, among other stories, audiences will see Robert, after months of croc wrangling training with Steve Irwin’s best friend Wes, take the final step in his journey to feed Graham, a huge crocodile at the zoo’s famous Crocoseum. Originally rescued by Steve, Graham is the Zoo’s largest and most volatile big croc, with a history of dragging Steve Irwin into the water during a routine capture, and separately injuring Wes with a surprise death roll that left him hospitalized. Bindi helps tend to Cedar, a rescue koala that has given birth to a rare set of twin joeys who must now survive the 6 to 8-month period before they can leave Cedar’s pouch. Bindi and the zookeepers face ongoing
challenges to keep the twin joeys alive as nature and survival of the fittest comes into play as one of the rarest types of koala pregnancies leaves the two joeys struggling and fighting for life.
During the season, Animal Planet viewers will witness a wide range of the joy and wonder of animals as the Irwins take on many projects, including the amazing transportation of a giraffe named Scarlett, who travels over 1200 miles to participate in a breeding program as a part of the Zoo’s conservation efforts, and the release of rescued and recuperated wildlife, including Eurong the turtle, Grub, the baby Echidna, and more. Viewers will also follow the family as they travel to locations that include the stunning Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef.
CRIKEY! IT’S THE IRWINS is produced for Animal Planet by Eureka where Paul Franklin, Chris Culvenor, Wes Dening and Rod Parker serve as executive producers. For Animal Planet, Erin Wanner is executive producer, Sarah Russell is producer and Paris Peckerman serves as production coordinator.
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.
