English Entertainment
Bruce Willis moonlights on Fox’s sitcom ‘That 70’s Show’
MUMBAI: Actor Bruce Willis goes back to the ’70s when he makes a special guest appearance on US broadcaster Fox’s sitcom That ’70s Show. Willis’ episode is scheduled to air in November. The new season of the sitcom premieres on 2 November. In India the show airs on Star World.
One of the stars of the show Ashton Kutcher had asked Willis to do an episode. Willis agreed because he thought it would be fun to work with his good friend (who also happens to be Willis’ former wife Demi Moore’s toy boy). In the episode, Willis portrays Vic, a sketchy fast-talker who is the head of security at the Playboy Club in Chicago. Vic, who sports a bad toupee and thick glasses, has a penchant for spicy nachos and referring to himself in the third person. Vic interviews Kutcher’s character for a security position at the club.
Willis has donated his episode fee for his work on the show to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Fox has agreed to match his donation to the fund.
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.
