English Entertainment
France gets gay with Pink TV
MUMBAI: After Viacom announced that it would launch Logo for the US gay and lesbian community early next year, it is now France’s turn to get one. Pink TV launches on 25 October at a price of $11 a month.
An AP report added that Pink’s founders believe that there’s a ready audience for the channel across Europe, and not just among France’s estimated 3.5 million gays.
The report notes that recently France legally recognised gay couples and elected a gay mayor for Paris. Homophobic remarks will be punishable with prison and fines under a draft law expected to be debated in parliament before the year’s end.
At the launch event, Pink said that while it would take part in the debate on homosexuality and other topics it had no plans to be militant.
Pink is aiming for at least 180,000 subscribers. There will be debates every Monday on topics such as homophobia, gay unions, gay parenthood and other topics. On Thursdays there will be a chat show. X-rated films will air four nights a week after midnight.
Italy’s Gay-TV became Europe’s first gay network in May 2002, free to satellite dish owners. The channel, owned by Dutch investor Coril, claims daily viewership of up to 500,000 Italians, half of whom are straight.
Another report has indicated that all gay networks and programmes count on a substantial portion of straight viewers, up to a third or more, for success.
In America, there is tremendous scope for channels devoted to gays and lesbians. In addition to an estimated 14 to 24 million lesbians and gays, there is also strong interest from the general population.
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.
