English Entertainment
Discovery India takes to sport as World Cup draws near
In a move timed to capitalise on the football fever on the eve of the World Cup, Discovery Channel has announced a series of documentaries about the game.
The varied football programming, which MD Deepak Shourie claims is an outcome of the channel’s focus on shows that are entertaining, educative and relevant to all viewer groups includes the history of the game, behind the scenes accounts and the business of the game.
The History of Football, a series that started on 4 April covers the multi dimensional cultural, social and political aspects of the game every Thursday at 10 pm takes viewers on a journey through the origins of the game, and what football means to different cultures.
Planet Soccer, a show that airs on 31 May and 23 June at 8 pm will be hosted by Ian Wright and deals with the football fever currently sweeping Korea and Japan.
Football Dreams on 31 May at 9 pm puts a marketing spin on the game from the Asian perspective. It deals with the region’s soccer players as well as their agents and managers.
Ultimate Goal on 23 June at 7 pm will discover the blood and sweat involved in making the 2002 World Cup a reality. The show will feature the man responsible for the incredible floating pitch in Japans Sapporo stadium. The show also looks at the manner in which the Osaka police are being coached in martial arts to cope with rowdy overseas fans.
Football: Business and Passion will air on 23 June at 9 pm and see the manager take centrestage. The programme goes behind the scenes to uncover the scenario of football negotiations, who stays in the team and who gets the boot. Exclusive access and the inside track allow Discovery camera crews to follow the progress of security measures being taken, ticket sales and the construction of stadia
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.
