English Entertainment
AXN claims its reality shows top charts in US
For those tired of the eternal “saas bahu” tangles, there’s good news from the action front. AXN claims that two of its reality shows currently being aired in India have smashed records in the US.
The two shows from the Columbia Tristar stable, Survivor Africa and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), have been voted number one and five respectively on the US charts, claims the channel. Both shows will close to sensational ends this month. CSI is a drama about a passionate team of forensic investigators trained to solve mysterious and seemingly unsolvable crimes by examining and assessing the evidence at the scene of the crime.
CSI has been nominated for a Golden Globe award for best dramatic television series. The critically acclaimed series, which has become the best performing show in its primetime slot in the US and the highest ranked new drama of the season, has also won numerous other accolades including ‘Best New Series of the year’ in the 2001 TV Guide Awards.
Survivor Africa is all about pushing participants’ physical and mental endurance to the limits in a challenging and excruciatingly intimidating environment. Sixteen strangers stranded on a difficult and dangerous terrain, battle it out in a game of wits, grit, deception and determination, in an edge-of-the-seat entertainment for the audience.
SET senior vice president, franchise channels and distribution Shantonu Aditya says more such shows are in the pipeline in the coming year.
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.
