English Entertainment
Ava DuVernay to receive 2022 International Emmy Founders Award
Mumbai: The International Academy of Television Arts And Sciences has announced that Ava DuVernay will receive the 2022 International Emmy Founders Award. The American film and television director, writer and producer will receive the honour at the 50th International Emmy Awards Gala on 21 November 2022 in New York City.
DuVernay has been nominated for her work on the Netflix’s mini-series When they See Us, based on the infamous Central Park Five case, which portrayed the injustices brought by police treatment of five falsely accused teens to the attention of millions of people around the world, as well as for her work at her production company Array. Along with credits including historical drama Selma, the documentary “13th”, and the movie Disney’s “Wrinkle in Time,” she became the highest-grossing black woman director ever at the US box office.
In a statement, International Academy president and CEO Bruce L. Paisner said, “Ava DuVernay is a force of nature and this is reflected in the remarkable scope and volume of her work. She makes significant films and television programs, she uses her platform to reshape our industry and continues to lead a career-long effort to bolster women and people of colour in entertainment and ensure inclusivity. We look forward to honouring her extraordinary talent and a prolific decade of leadership at Array, with our Founders Award.”
On receiving the honour, DuVernay said, “This honour from the International Academy of Television Arts And Sciences is unexpected and wildly appreciated. I thank the organisation for recognising my work and salute their efforts to ensure that storytellers of all backgrounds are amplified and celebrated.”
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.
