English Entertainment
Foreigners’ mantra: Build contacts, create awareness
MUMBAI: Apart from getting ‘gyan’ at the various sessions at Frames 2005, the event also provides an opportunity for overseas firms to build contacts and learn about the Indian market. Companies from Australia, Canada, Wales, Germany and the US have set up stalls at Frames.
There is an Australian Enclave which is an initiative of the South Australia government. Mason Films’ Mason Curtis tells Indiantelevision.com that the aim is to educate the Indian film industry about the facilities that South Australia provides.
“We want to capitalise on the fact that Indian locales and European ones have been exhausted. The response has been mixed. So our aim is to educate them. Frames is a great forum for reaching outgun South Australia we design cash paybacks and rebates for firms whose shooting generates employment,” he said.
Wales is another country that has a stall with the purpose of enticing filmmakers to shoot in the country. A representative of Wales Film says that Frames has helped provide valuable contacts, which can be developed for the future.
The hope is that when a filmmakers’ schedule is free and production will start on a new film, Wales should be a top of the mind recall locale.
Another factor that attracts visitors to Frames is intimacy. That is not the case with, say, MipTV in Cannes where there are 10,000 visitors. So if you get even half an hour with a client you are lucky.
Imax, meanwhile, sees Frames as an opportunity to network and meet clients. Last month the company had announced plans to set up shop in Chennai. So Frames serves as a vehicle to create awareness about the service Imax provides.
Six months ago Vancouver Film School set up a place in Mumbai. The aim is to provide an avenue for media students who are interested in studying abroad. International admissions advisor Dorothy Mathias says that at Frames the response has been fantastic from both students and working professionals who wish to upgrade their skills. In particular, there have been enquiries about the animation and sound designing courses as well as scriptwriting.
Then there are companies who are looking to study the Indian market and learning. This will give them an idea of what Indian firms are looking for as well as what India can provide for the international market.
A case in point is World Wide Entertainment. This is an Australian firm that makes and distributes TV content. It sells around 400 hours of content globally. In India, its clients include India TV, DD and NDTV. It is using Frames to increase the number of Indian clients. According to World Wide Entertainment international business manager Rana Vassi, “At Frames you get to meet key local players that are not listed in guides. We have lined up several meetings.
“We also look at shows in India that might work for clients overseas. We have been talking to Sony about this. India is coming out with lifestyle shows and travel shows. So we want to see if any of these will be of interest to clients abroad. It is a two way process.” He added, “We also represent other producers of TV content. We sell films, documentaries and animation. So, at Frames we learn about what the local Indian players require. We will form alliances with other foreign producers to distribute their content depending on what Indian firms need. The bottomline is that it is always good to interact with players in their backyard.”
Goto Bavaria, a German government organisation, is here to learn about the Indian market. The aim is to identify opportunities for German companies in the Indian market such as in the post-production arena. This is in the short term is the strategy for Goto Bavaria. In the long term, Indian companies like Zee and Star will go global. So, they will do some of their shooting abroad. Then the interactions between Bavaria and the Indian entertainment industry will pay off.
The one firm that showed some disappointment is Filmpur. This is an online destination for Indian filmmakers. It helps producers and directors scout for suitable locations globally as well as to help them secure financing. However, the big guns were in short supply at Frames.
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.
