English Entertainment
Ex ‘Friends’ Kudrow to make a ‘Comeback’ on HBO
MUMBAI: After the popular sitcom Friends called it a day earlier this year Lisa Kudrow has been looking for another high profile venture to get attached to.
She has found one courtesy HBO which has picked up a comedy series Comeback. for 14 episodes.
A report in the Hollywood Reporter adds that Kudrow also co-wrote the pilot script for Comeback with Sex and the City’s Michael Patrick King, who also directed.
HBO has not decided on when Kudrow’s show will start airing. Kudrow plays a sitcom star trying to revive her career. HBO’s other comedies include Curb Your Enthusiasm which airs in India on Zee English.
HBO is no doubt hoping that Kudrow will help it make a big Comeback to the comedy genre since Sex And The City drew to a close in the US in February. In fact Comeback is the first 30-minute comedy series that the channel has picked up since the Sex And The City completed a six-year-run.
Another report in AP has pointed out that stars who have been in a big hit don’t necessarily find another success easily. After Seinfeld ended its stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander each had a flop. Alexander is trying his hand again with the freshman series Listen Up on CBS.
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.
