English Entertainment
Disney must bid for Sky after Fox deal: UK Takeover Panel
MUMBAI: If Disney’s proposed acquisition of Fox proceeds, the former has to make a mandatory offer to the holders of ordinary shares in Sky, according to the UK’s takeover code. The UK Takeover Panel has informed Disney, Fox and Sky of its ruling.
Disney, the owner of Walt Disney Studios, has made a $66 billion bid to take over 21st Century Fox, which owns 39 per cent stake in Sky. According to the rules of the Takeover Code, Disney will be required to make the mandatory offer to the holders of ordinary shares in Sky as a result of Fox’s stake of approximately 39 per cent in Sky.
Within 28 days of completion of its acquisition, Disney would have to make a bid of 10.75 pounds a share. Disney can evade the bid in certain circumstances; one if Fox acquires 100 per cent of the ordinary shares of Sky or any other third-party acquires more than 50 per cent of the ordinary shares of Sky. Comcast Corporation already announced earlier it was considering making an offer for Sky.
“At this stage, Sky Shareholders are advised to take no further action. Further advice to Sky shareholders will be announced in due course,” Sky said amid this complexity.
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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.
