English Entertainment
Discovery Travel & Living to air two localised series in 06
BANGALORE: International lifestyle channel Discovery Travel & Living (DTL) is bringing out two series next year which will be localised in India. DTL is also making a five episode series on speed as an element slated to launch by the end of this month.
This was revealed to indiantelevision.com today on the sidelines of a media briefing to kick off a series on revolutionary music that left an indelible mark on the world — Impact: Songs That Changed The World.
We are going to bring out two series next year which are going to be localised for India, made by Indian production houses. Its for the first time that well be seeing a product made and commissioned by Indian producers. Our idea is not just to showcase the world to India, but to showcase India to the world. These series-one food and one travel show- will be broadcast abroad as well as in India said DTL manager corporate communications Rajiv Bakshi.
Additionally, DTL is making a five-episode series on speed as an element, what it means to various people, speed as in used for car racing, super-sonic jets, speed as used by women and women coming into driving, into speed racing. The show is slated to launch by the end of this month, said Bakshi.
Speaking about Impact: Songs That Changed The World, bakshi said the series is celebrating the songs and not the singers per se and 12 songs have been selected. The weekly show kicked off on 12 November on DTL and has been slotted at 8:30 pm. A rerun will air every Saturday at 4:30 pm.
Most of the songs are in demand even today, and songs of singers such as Bob Marley sell more than they did when he was alive. His freedom anthem I Shot the Sheriff , Elvis Presleys Heartbreak Hotel or Aretha Franklins female empowerment mega-hit Respect, these songs represent several indisputable milestones in the history of popular music.
The series includes the following songs in the episodes:
(1) MAYBELLENE, Chuck Berry
(2) HEARTBREAK HOTEL, Elvis Presley
(3) I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND, The Beatles
(4) RESPECT, Aretha Franklin
(5) I SHOT THE SHERIFF, Bob Marley
(6) I WANNA BE SEDATED, The Ramones
(7) STAYIN’ ALIVE, The Bee Gees
(8) DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?, Band Aid
(9) WALK THIS WAY, Run DMC & Aerosmith
(10) LIKE A VIRGIN, Madonna
(11) SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT, Nirvana
(12) ANY MAN Of MINE, Shania Twain
People could say that we could have added more songs or some of the songs should not be there, we understand that and we appreciate that, said Bakshi while speaking with Indiantelevision.com.
Other interesting subjects that DTL plans to cover would be the effects of collisions between comets, a two episode series on the Titanic the first episode would cover the building of the ship and the second would show the reasons for its sinking, based on new findings.
Another program that is likely to be telecast – Voyage to Tsunami would be telecast on 26 December , to coincide with the anniversary of the event that devastated a large portion of South East Asia and India.
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.
