English Entertainment
‘Game of Thrones’ becomes the most popular series in the history of HBO
MUMBAI: With two episodes remaining in the fourth season of Game of Thrones, the show has now become the most popular series in HBO’s history, according to a statement released by HBO.
Episodes of the show, which debut Sunday nights in the US, have an average gross audience of 18.4 million viewers, surpassing the previous record set by the 2002 season of ‘The Sopranos’, which had an average gross audience of 18.2 million viewers per episode. Season three of Game of Thrones had an average gross audience of 14.4 million viewers per episode.
The next episode of Game of Thrones debuts in India on Sunday, 8 June, followed by the penultimate episode on Sunday, 15 June and the season finale on 22 June, exclusively on HBO Defined.
Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George RR Martin, Game of Thrones is an epic story of treachery and nobility set on the continent of Westeros, where summers and winters can last years, and only the lust for power is eternal. The EMMY and Golden Globe-winning series was recently renewed for a fifth and sixth season.
The executive producers of Game of Thrones are David Benioff, DB Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger and Bernadette Caulfield with co-executive producers Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis and George RR Martin. Chris Newman and Greg Spence produce the series.
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.
