English Entertainment
Animal Planet’s unveils new series ‘The Lion Kingdom’
MUMBAI: Animal Planet has been dedicated to bringing to the fore incredible stories from the animal kingdom. Taking yet another step in this direction, starting 27 January, at 9 PM, the channel is all set to premiere an incredible 10-part series ‘The Lion Kingdom’ which will take viewers at the forefront of India’s battle with the deadly Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) which threatened to wipe out the last of the surviving Asiatic Lions in the world living in the wilds of the Gir National Park. Produced by film-maker Upma Bhatnagar, Executive Producer and Director, Optimum Television, The Lion Kingdom features renowned veterinary surgeon Steve Leonard as the series host.
This incredible series is the story of the Asiatic Lions’ fight with destiny and their triumph over a disease that had wiped out over 1000 lions in one deadly sweep in the Serengeti National Pak in Tanzania in the 1990s. These lions with their valiant fight for survival truly live up to their name – being referred to as India’s Pride. However, along with the indomitable spirits of glorious beasts, the relentless efforts of those working in the background – the forest department and the veterinarians is what truly helped turn this almost disaster into a story of hope.
The Lion Kingdom is a story of how the forest department of Gir National Park worked round the clock to try and save the king of the jungle while battling heavy rains and flooding and dealing with a sudden increase in the number of crocodiles in the area as a result! For the first time ever, not only will audiences get to witness the functioning of the veterinarian hospital in Gir, the only National park in India that has a full-fledged hospital for animals with the latest medical equipment, but they will also get to marvel at the transformation of Gir during the monsoons as this is the first time ever the National Park has been filmed during the rains.
“The deadly CDV virus had the potential to impact India’s pride – the Asiatic lions at The Gir National Park. The outstanding work done by our forest department to handle a crisis of this magnitude is a story which had to be shared with the world,” said, Discovery South Asia Content, Factual & Lifestyle Entertainment director Sai Abishek. “This series is a testimony to our purpose to grow awareness about wildlife conservation and instill a sense of pride and empathy among audiences towards these incredible animals and those working to save them.”
Optimum Television executive producer and director Upma Bhatnagar said, “It was the serious most alarm not only in Gir, but in India’s entire conservation history since independence. At stake was the existence of an entire species – Asiatic lions – that does not exist anywhere else in the world. When I heard many scientists and conservationists expressing fears that the Indian lion may not be able to come out of this crisis, I was really worried. Gir is very special to me. This is where I had filmed my first TV series, The Lion Queens of India. I enjoy a special bond with the land, its people and its majestic animals. We spoke with Discovery India who sensed the gravity of the situation and gave us their full creative and logistic support to share our story with the nation.”
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.
