English Entertainment
Sky, Nippon & Globosat buy sports & music, etc. docus from GRB Entertainment
MUMBAI: Sky UK, Nippon Television & Globosat have recently bought sports, music, etc documentaries from GRB Entertainment.
Globosat Brazil renewed Remembering Whitney, a documentary featuring legendary singer Whitney Houston, just in time to celebrate the icon’s 9 August birthday. This breathtaking one-hour special celebrates the legacy of the six-time Grammy winner, featuring “never-before-seen footage” of Whitney, including interviews with the pop icon, exclusive concerts, private home videos, and candid insights from her family, including her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.
Nippon Television Network in Japan acquired Michael Sam, a 65-minute doc spotlighting the life of Michael Sam, the first openly gay U.S. football player in the NFL. Cameras follow Sam along his brave journey – from a football player at the University of Missouri to the biggest professional sports league in America as he works to earn a spot on a NFL team.
Sky UK acquired two docs: Confessions of a Superhero follows the lives of three mortal men and one woman who make their living working as superhero characters on the sidewalks of the infamous Hollywood Boulevard. This deeply personal view into the daily routines of these characters reveal their hardships, and triumphs, while they pursue and achieve their own kind of fame; and The Mona Lisa Myth, narrated by Morgan Freeman, is a lavish period docu-drama that takes viewers from Leonardo Da Vinci’s happy sojourn in the duchy of Milan to his struggling years in Florence, through the controversy surrounding his famous painting The Mona Lisa and finally, his retirement at the French royal court in Amboise.
“GRB is well-known around the globe for its wide-ranging portfolio of factual programs and we are fortunate to also represent many top-notch documentaries. From a sports’ figure with a ground-breaking story to a great singer and her tragic life to a group of people chasing a Hollywood dream to the great artist Da Vinci, GRB has programs that transcend borders and language barriers,” said GRB Entertainment SVP – international distribution Michael Lolato.
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.
