English Entertainment
Fox makes ’24’ mobile in the UK, US
MUMBAI: This is a unique way of cross promoting a show using the mobile. In conjunction with the fourth season premiere of Fox’s drama series 24 in the US and UK, the Rupert Murdoch owned broadcaster has done a deal for a different version of the show called 24 Conspiracy for mobile phones.
Fox Entertainment Group (FEG) signed an agreement with Vodafone, which claims to be the world’s largest mobile community. In India 24 airs on AXN.
24: Conspiracy will have different characters and actors from the television show. It will be distributed by Vodafone on mobile phones from January 2005. The format of the show will however be unchanged. For the uninitiated, 24 stars Kiefer Sutherland as an undercover agent. Each episode represents an hour in his life.
As is the case with the television show, all 24 installments of 24: Conspiracy will have a cliffhanger ending leading directly into the next installment. The shattering final episode will see all questions being answered.
Vodafone will distribute in up to 23 countries twenty-four serialised mobisodes. Each is a minute in length and will premiere in each territory in tandem with their local 24 premiere on television. The episodes will be available every week to Vodafone live! with 3G customers throughout the run of the television show’s upcoming fourth season.
The localised scheduling serves to give Vodafone and each local territory the opportunity to cross-promote the launch of the mobile series with the premiere of the television series. 24: Conspiracy. will launch on 30 January 2005 in the UK to coincide with the fourth season premiere of 24 on Sky One.
Plans are underway to distribute 24: Conspiracy through Verizon Wireless in the US in 2005.
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.
