English Entertainment
E-City Films to release Hollywood film ‘The New World’ in India
MUMBAI: E-City Films will release this year’s Oscar nominated Hollywood Blockbuster The New World in India on 7 April. Directed by Terence Malick and inspired by the legend of John Smith and Pocahontas, the movie explores the story of love, loss and discovery, both a celebration and an elegy of the America that was and the America that was yet to come.
The film was nominated for this year’s Oscar Awards for Best Achievement in Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki).
Speaking on the release of the film, E-City Films chief executive officer Atul Goel said, ” The Multiplex revolution has paved way for the English movie market in India, which can be pegged at Rs.1 billion approx. We are looking at a 30 per cent growth in this business. It is an excellent business arena to broach upon.”
E-City Films (I) Pvt. Ltd has so far distributed Alexander (December 2004), One Dollar Curry (February 2005), Million Dollar Baby (March 2005) and Sahara (July 2005), Truth about Love, Elvis has left the Building, Five Children and It, Cellular and many such hits in the Indian sub-continent viz. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. It has also taken the Indian lifestyle shows to the Russian television audience, informs an official release.
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.
