English Entertainment
AXN continues focus on reality shows with 4 new programmes
MUMBAI: Action oriented channel AXN is set to send pulses racing with four new shows. Fear Factor II, Courage, Rescue 911 and Without Warning which will premiere this month.
The second season of Fear Factor premieres 12 August at 9 pm. According to an official release, the show is powered by two celebrity specials – a Playmate special and a WWE special. Participants are pushed into difficult situations where their grit, mettle and tenacity is tested to the ultimate limits. In each episode, six people are confronted with a series of challenging and life threatening stunts demanding co-ordination of mind and body. Contestants are put through three tasks – if they complete their tasks, they advance, if fear stops them from completing a stunt, they are immediately eliminated. The contestant who wins the final challenge takes home a grand prize of $50,000.
Viewers can watch the likes of David Hasselhoff (Baywatch), Kevin Richardson (The Backstreet Boys), Kelly Preston, actress wife of John Travolta, Brooke Burns (Baywatch, Shallow Hal) and Donny Osmond (Donny & Marie) – all ready to face their innermost fears. The show also showcases participants’ attempts to conquer fears of swimming in a sea full of alligators or having 50 tarantulas crawling all over contestants’ faces.
Courage premiers on Independence day (15 August) at 9 pm. Hosted by actor Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), the show sees ordinary citizens performing incredible acts of heroism. Viewers can watch scenes such as a teenage boy, who after surviving a catastrophic plane crash, runs back into the burning wreckage to rescue his sister and mother. A civilian risks his life by going undercover in the dangerous world of illegal hunters to capture a notorious bear poacher.
Without Warning kicks off on 13 August at 9 pm. Five episodes see world-acclaimed experts risking their lives in man’s most notorious domains of disaster as they reach for answers that will ultimately provide a safer world for all. Rescue 911 on 20 August at 8 am and 4 pm with new episodes from Monday to Friday will deal with paramedics and other rescue workers dealing with emergency situations. Hosted by William Shatner of Star Trek fame Rescue 911 follows 911 calls that are answered each day. The show conducts interviews with rescue workers, plays back recordings of actual calls and provides a vivid look at the life or death dramas that occur every day.
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.
