English Entertainment
HBO, BBC to co-produce comedy series ‘Extras’
MUMBAI: HBO and the BBC have announced a co-production deal for Extras. This is a new comedy series from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant who created the Golden Globe-winning BBC comedy series The Office.
Currently in production, the six-episode first season will debut on BBC Two in the UK later this year. The HBO debut will be announced later.
HBO Entertainment president Carolyn Strauss said, “Ricky Gervais is one of the most original comic voices working today. HBO is extremely proud to join with the BBC in bringing his new show to America.”
Extras stars Gervais as a bitter, aspiring actor Andy Millman. He gives up his day job to pursue fame in the movies, only to find he just can’t land the big parts. Each episode will have a different setting and feature cameos by top Hollywood stars including Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction, Ben Stiller There Is Something About Mary, Kate Winslet Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Patrick Stewart. The cast will also feature Stephen Merchant as Millman’s agent.
Gervais said, “It’s an honour to be on the same network that gave us The Sopranos. They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” Previous successful co-production partnerships between HBO and the BBC include the upcoming series Rome as well as the HBO Films presentations Dirty War and The Gathering Storm.
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.
