English Entertainment
HBO reserves its best for a repeat this year-end
HBO has evolved a unique end of the year wrapup strategy. Come Christmas month, the channel is planning repeat telecasts of all the popular movies it has shown throughout the year, each Friday at 9:30 pm. Packaged as the 'Best of HBO 2001,' the slot will be reserved for well-received flicks like The Matrix, The Bone Collector and Stuart Little.
To begin with, it has Twister on 7 December, starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, a whacky tale of dedicated but crazy scientists who try to unravel the way tornadoes work. Writer Michael Crichton's talents combine with those of Steven Spielberg, to create some of the best special effects Hollywood has seen.
The Bone Collector follows on 14 December, leaving bony fragments of clues all over Manhattan. Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington star in this one.
The mother of all special effects movies, The Matrix, follows on 21 December, with Keanu Reeves juggling reality and perception with some breathtaking flo mo action sequences.
The feel good movie following Christmas is Stuart Little, the endearing flick about the mouse that's adopted by a family and hated by a cat.
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.
