English Entertainment
HBO to screen rare Madonna TV concert
HBO will premier Madonna's first TV concert in eight years on 6 December at 9:30 pm.
The eye-popping extravaganza that was performed at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, features numerous set changes, red-hot musicians and dancers, and Madonna's longtime backup duo Nikki Harris and Donna DeLory. The channel will have a repeat telecast of the concert on 31 December at 9:30 pm.
The concert is part of her latest "Drowned" world tour that kicked off in Barcelona, and will feature materials from her multi-platinum albums Music and Ray of Light, as well as other signature hits from her career. Her two previous concerts were "The Girlie Show" in 1993 and "Madonna – Live! Blond Ambition World Tour 90" in 1990.
The Drowned World Tour is said to be one of the most elaborate tours ever. Celebrities wanting to see the concert had to pay for their tickets. The tour requires more than 200 people who travel from city to city and 100 additional local production people. The show is a kaleidoscope of sound, lights, technology and video images, colours, pyrotechnics, mechanical bulls and the Material Girl's choreographed dance routines with her back-up dancers.
The Concert showcases four of Madonna's many personas: she kicks off the show dressed in rock 'n roll punk – in black bondage-style pants, a tartan top and a rhinestone-studded kilt. Songs here include Ray of Light and Candy Perfume Girl. Next is a geisha act where Madonna wears an exquisite kimono, designed by Arianne Phillips and Jean-Paul Gaultier. When the kimono comes off, she takes to the heavens in a major Ang Lee way Then it is time for the Wild Wild West where she sings in suede chaps, a leather shirt and a cowboy hat for Human Nature. She also shoots a cowhand on stage and rides a mechanical bull. After performing a Spanish version of What It Feels Like For A Girl and tango-ing with a female dancer in La Isla Bonita, Madonna wraps things up with one of her first hits, Holiday.
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.
