English Entertainment
HK’s NOW snares HBO, Star in exclusive deal
NEW DELHI: Hong Kong-based PCCW’s IPTV platform NOW Broadband TV (NOW) has secured exclusive long term agreements with HBO and Star Group, comprising 14 channels that includes five movie channels.
The agreement with HBO expires in 2014 and includes HBO, HBO Signature and Cinemax, while the agreement with Star expires in 2011 and comprises 11 channels (including Star Chinese Movies, Star Movies, Star World, Fox News and Hindi-language Star News and Star Plus), according to Hong Kong-based media analyst firm Media Partners Asia (MPA).
In addition, to ESPN-Star Sports, which NOW secured exclusive access to last year, NOW also reported an exclusive distribution agreement with Mei Ah TV (Chinese-language movies) and distribution agreements with Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting (CNN Headline News and Boomerang); Eastern Broadcasting in Taiwan (ETTV news and entertainment channels) EuroNews and the Asian Food Channel.
The news further reinforces NOW’s position as the platform of choice for major international channels and foreign residents in Hong Kong.
The agreement with HBO expires in 2014 and includes HBO, HBO Signature and Cinemax, while the agreement with Star expires in 2011 and comprises 11 channels (including Star Chinese Movies, Star Movies, Star World, Fox News and Hindi-language Star News and Star Plus), according to Hong Kong-based media analyst firm Media Partners Asia (MPA).
In addition, to ESPN-Star Sports, which NOW secured exclusive access to last year, NOW also reported an exclusive distribution agreement with Mei Ah TV (Chinese-language movies) and distribution agreements with Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting (CNN Headline News and Boomerang); Eastern Broadcasting in Taiwan (ETTV news and entertainment channels) EuroNews and the Asian Food Channel.
The news further reinforces NOW’s position as the platform of choice for major international channels and foreign residents in Hong Kong.
Prior to July, HBO’s one-year carriage on NOW had produced far higher take-up when compared with its premium distribution on the i-CABLE platform, where its numbers have stagnated for the past five years, MPA said.
Both HBO and STAR have also been drawn to attractive minimum-guarantee agreements with NOW and its significant marketing capabilities.
NOW’s distribution of HBO and Star movie channels and Galaxy’s (SuperSun)continued carriage of Celestial Movies will also exert greater pressure on i-CABLE in Hong Kong to programme a successful movie channel of its own.
Management at i-CABLE indicate that the company will remain focused on the local demographic by investing further in its news and entertainment channels (and, in the future, movies) and maintaining its sports franchise (EPL Soccer, World Cup soccer and more).
However, PCCW is also gradually building up its own localized franchise (ATV news channel already on board; local financial news channel to be next) and is likely to bid against i-CABLE (along with ESPN-Star Sports) when EPL Soccer comes up for renewal in 2006.
Along with i-CABLE, Galaxy will also lose the distribution of HBO channels, another impediment to the long term growth of its fledgling service.
As of year ended December 2004, NOW had signed up 416,000 homes with an installed STB base of 361,000. About 53 per cent of the installed base or 192,000 customers subscribed to NOW’s a-la-carte pay channels and/or mini packs with monthly average return per user (ARPU)at HK$105 or US$13, MPA stated.
Going forward, MPA quoted PCCW as saying that it plans to drive STB installs to approximately 500,000 and, at the same time, increase its pay TV conversion rate from Y/E December 2004 levels of 53 per cent.
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.
