iWorld
ZEE5 partners with Lebara Australia to bring the largest library of content for South Asians to its subscribers
MUMBAI: ZEE5, the digital entertainmentplatform from ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.,today announced a new partnership with LebaraAustralia to bring the largest library of entertainment content for South Asians to Lebara customers down under.
Available in 17 different languages, ZEE5 offers subscribers 100,000 hours of on demand movies, Originals, TV programs, videos and news content. From September, Lebara Australia customers will be able to get a six-month ZEE5 subscription bundled with select prepaid plans.
ZEE5’s entertainment content includes leading Hindi TV shows (e.g. Kum Kum Bhagya and Jodhaa Akbar); the latest ZEE5 Originals (e.g. The Final Call with Arjun Rampal, Kaafir with Dia Mirza) and 2000+ movies (e.g. Simba with Ranveer Singh, Kedarnath with Sara Ali Khan and Sushant Singh Rajput, and Veere Di Wedding with Kareena Kapoor Khan).
Popular Tamil TV shows (e.g. Sembaruthi, Yaaradi Nee Mohini and Poove Poochoodava), blockbuster Tamil films (e.g. Mapla Singam, Mersaland Kalavu) and ZEE5 Originals (e.g. Auto Shankar and Thiravam) are also available to subscribers, along with 60+ live streaming TV channels including India’s largest news stations.
Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global, said that Australia is a key market for ZEE5 as the digital entertainment destination continues to expand globally.
“Australia is an extremely important market for us as we expand across the globe and we’re extremely excited to announce our very first partnership with local telecom operator, Lebara Australia.”
“With this partnership, we’re looking to increase our presence in Australia using Lebara Australia’s subscriber base which will now have access to the best of Indian entertainment on any device of their choice,” continues Anand.
Ash Saini, General Manager, Lebara Australia, said “We are thrilled to have partnered with ZEE5 in Australia and we cannot wait for all our users to sample the huge library of content that ZEE5 has to offer.”
“With a huge appetite for Indian entertainment amongst our ethnic market, we are very excited to launch our bundles with ZEE5 subscriptions and we aim to ensure that every individual on the go uses ZEE5 as a one stop destination to consume the best of Indian entertainment,” continues Saini.
ZEE5 is available using Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, Android TVs and Amazon Fire TV, and via Google Play Store, iOS App Store andwww.zee5.com.
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
