English Entertainment
Disney stars celebrate Makar Sankranti with kids from Ahmedabad
MUMBAI: On the occasion of the vibrant and colorful festival, Makar Sankranti, three Disney characters descended upon Lake Kankaria to fly kites with less privileged children in Ahmedabad.
The kids experienced classic Disney magic as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy brought smiles and cheer to their ecstatic audience this afternoon.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation India was responsible for inviting the stars from Disney as part of its India outreach programme.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of India works with The Walt Disney Company in India to fulfill children’s (between the ages of 3 and 18 living with life-threatening illnesses) cherished Disney wishes.
The wish of a child could be to have his own bicycle, be a cop, see the Taj Mahal or meet a popular personality. The foundation believes that fulfillment of the most cherished wish of a child can give back what a sickness takes away – strength, hope and joy and actually have a therapeutic effect.
Commenting on the occasion Make-A-Wish Foundation of India CEO Sharmistha Adyanthaya said, “The Foundation wishes to convey our heartfelt thanks to Disney for their commitment to bringing hope and joy to children with life-threatening illnesses. We are delighted to be associating our foundation with the ‘Disney Magic’ Outreach initiative that will bring this first ever magical experience in India to our wish children. The number of these children in India is rapidly growing and the long-term association with various Outreach initiatives of the Disney Worldwide Outreach in India will allow us to reach many more of them. A wish fulfillment makes a sick child believe that anything is possible, even the future, making the impact of this association immeasurable.”
The Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain said, “It is heartening to see the children’s eyes light up with happiness and laughter each time they come closer to any Disney experience the world over. Disney has immense respect for the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It gives me great pride to continue this association in India, which is over 25 years old in other parts of the world. Through all of our outreach programs and our work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, we are committed to supporting the realization of special wishes of children that bring joy to them in so many meaningful ways.”
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.
