English Entertainment
MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series
MUMBAI: GRB Entertainment, a trendsetter of unscripted, and scripted, alternative programming with a proven track record worldwide, announced a slate of new titles to debut at MIPCOM.
As the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s death approaches, GRB brings a documentary on his life and career with exclusive footage and over 50 interviews with celebrities, directors, and animators. WALT: The Man Behind The Myth is the official biography of Walt Disney, sanctioned by The Walt Disney Family Foundation. This 90 minute documentary is presented by Diane Disney Miller and narrated by Dick Van Dyke and is filled with never-before-seen color home movies shot by Walt himself.
Real-life crime is often more dramatic than fiction and GRB Entertainment owns many of the best series and docs in this genre. Occult Crimes takes a look inside the devilish minds of the most unpredictable and dangerous killers in history who take their orders from Satan to commit heinous murders. Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story tells the true story of the death of Andrew Burd, a four-year-old from Texas who died mysteriously of salt poisoning. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder and sent to prison for life. But is this churchgoing woman a vicious child killer or had the tragedy claimed its second victim?
Turning to music, Follow The Rules is a 12-part series following Grammy-nominated international rapper turned actor, Ja Rule, and the hectic household that he and his wife Aisha are trying to keep under control. With their two sons, daughter, and Ja’s mother and mother-in-law living under one roof, the house that Rule built is anything but quiet.
In Cleveland Hustles, NBA superstar LeBron James and longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter give four aspiring local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their business dreams while also helping to revitalize neighborhoods in their hometown of Cleveland.
GRB also brings a series of CNN documentaries from Soledad O’Brien. In Babies Behind Bars, follow the lives of female inmates in a remarkable program allowing them to raise their babies while they serve times. Black & Blue tells the shocking real-life stories of young black men facing persistent racial profiling and police brutality. In Black In America and Latino in America, both multi-documentary collections, Soledad O’Brien explores interpretations of race and cultural identity for people living in the United States.
“Our official doc on Walt Disney – an iconic man with a great impact on pop culture – offers amazing exclusive footage of his private life. We also have two fun and inspiring series featuring Ja Rule and LeBron James. We continue to bring riveting, real-life crime with Occult Crimes and Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story. We are also thrilled to represent a number of Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentaries, which span crime and human-interest,” said Michael Lolato, SVP of International Distribution, GRB Entertainment.
GRB is well-known for its gripping real-life crime series as well as intriguing and inspiring factual programs, and serves up both for the upcoming market. Intervention, GRB’s groundbreaking A&E series (200+ episodes), received two Emmy® Award nominations in 2016, a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in 2016, an Emmy® Award nomination in 2015, and an Emmy Award win in 2009 from the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences for Outstanding Reality Program.
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.
