English Entertainment
Comedy Central goes HD
MUMBAI: The English entertainment channel from Viacom18 stable, Comedy Central is going to take a high definition (HD) route. The comedy channel, which so far only had a standard definition (SD) feed, will now be available in HD.
While the HD feed is currently available only on Tata Sky, it will soon be offered on other platforms as well. Comedy Central HD was launched on Tata Sky on 1 July. “Comedy Central is now HD and so all the Tata Sky subscribers can enjoy the channel in HD,” said Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats.
Comedy Central HD on Tata Sky is priced at Rs 20 on a-la-carte. Surprisingly, the SD feed on a-la-carte on the platform is priced the same. Currently, the channel’s SD and HD feed are part of Tata Sky’s ‘Grand Sports Pack’ that is available at Rs 470 per month.
“We have just launched Comedy Central HD, once it is available on all platforms, we will only have the HD feed,” said a source from the network.
No marketing plans have been chalked out to promote the HD version of the channel at least for the next two months.
It can be noted that Viacom18 is all set to launch two new English entertainment channels—Colors Infinity and Colors Infinity HD. The new channels will have shows from across genres including drama, comedy, super heroes, talent, lifestyle, action, mini-series and live events.
With the addition of Comedy Central HD, there are now four HD English entertainment channels. These include: Star World HD, Star World Premiere HD and AXN HD. This number, by the end of the year, after the launch of Colors Infinity HD, FX HD and Zee Café HD, will go up to seven.
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.
