English Entertainment
HBO Asia to air epic series ‘Rome’ from Sunday
MUMBAI: HBO Asia has announced that it will premiere its epic series Rome in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Phillipines from Sunday 27 November 2005.
The series which is a co-production between HBO and the BBC deals with several themes including love and betrayal, masters and slaves, and husbands and wives that chronicles the turbulent times and experiences of two plebeian Roman soldiers who become unwittingly entwined in the pivotal events that led to the fall of a Republic and the creation of an empire.
The series was shot at Rome’s Cinecitta Studios. Additional location footage was shot throughout Europe and North Africa. The lead writer is English screen-writer Bruno Heller, who is also an executive producer on the drama.
Heller adds, “You rarely see onscreen the complexity and colour that was ancient Rome. It has more in common with places like Mexico City and Calcutta than quiet white marble. Rome was brightly colored, a place of vibrant cruelty, full of energy, dynamism and chaotic filth. It was a merciless existence, dog-eat-dog, with a very small elite, and masses of poverty. We see the same problems today – crime, unemployment, disease, and pressure to preserve your place in a precarious society.
The series has a budget of $100 million one of the highest in television history. It boasts the largest standing set in the world, comprising five acres of backlot and six soundstages at Rome’s legendary Cinecittà studios. It is also the first English-language series to be shot entirely in a non-English-speaking country, Italy. Rome employs an international crew of about 350 and required over 4,000 pieces of wardrobe, 2,500 being used in the first three episodes alone.
Among the actors starring in the first season are Kevin McKidd Kingdom of Heaven as Lucius Vorenus, Ray Stevenson King Arthur as Titus Pullo, Ciarán Hinds Road to Perdition as Gaius Julius Caesar, Kenneth Cranham Layer Cake as Pompey Magnus and Polly Walker Patriot Games as Atia of the Juli
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.
