English Entertainment
AXN upgrades weekend entertainment with Limitless and season 4 of Elementary
MUMBAI: AXN, the English entertainment channel, is bringing two new shows for its ‘Fresh From The U.S.’ slot -Limitless and season 4 of Elementary. Limitless will premiere on 21 November 2015 and can be seen every Saturday at 11 pm and Elementary will air on 22 November at 10 pm.
Talking about the two new shows, Sony PIX & AXN India executive vice-president and business head Saurabh Yagnik said, “In order to cater to the TG who seeks new and latest content that airs day-and-date with the U.S., we had created a specific slot – ‘Fresh From The U.S.’ – wherein we have been programming the freshest shows and their latest seasons over the weekends. This exclusive slot is a perfect getaway for viewers to experience new, fresh stories, never-seen-before on Indian television. With premieres of iconic shows like Limitless and Elementary (Season 4), we continue to live up to the brand promise of providing a thrilling entertainment experience.”
Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller as detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. Elementary is the modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks NYPD’s most impossible cases. In this season, Holmes and Watson must rely upon one another to rebuild their lives, notwithstanding the untimely return of Sherlock’s estranged but wealthy father, Morland Holmes.
Limitless a spinoff of the 2011 thriller of the same name, features Jake McDorman and Jennifer Carpenter as the leads and is produced by Bradley Cooper, the original main character from the film, plays U.S. Senator Eddie Morra. In the show, protagonist Brian Finch, played by Jake McDorman, is seen discovering the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT. He is then forced by the FBI into using his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them.
Limitless debuted in the US on September 22, 2015. On October 23, 2015, CBS picked up Limitless for a full season of 22 episodes. It airs on CBS every Tuesday night.
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.
