English Entertainment
‘Joey’ executive producer Kevin Bright to judge ‘Miss Universe 2005’
MUMBAI: Bangkok, Thailand is gearing up to play host to contestants from more than 80 countries around the globe for the 54th annual Miss Universe competition.
The show will air live in the US on NBC and in India on Star World on 30 May 2005.
Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush and Nancy O’Dell will co-host the event. A few days ago Star World had shown Miss USA which was also co-hosted by Bush.
Miss Universe 2005 will be chosen by an international judging panel which includes the executive producer of NBC hit shows like Friends and Joey Kevin Bright.
Miss Universe Organisation president Paul Shugart said, “Thailand is world-class tourist destination which is ready to play host to the Miss Universe pageant and the thousands of international travellers from over 80 different nations who will converge on the country over the next three weeks. We are excited to show our contestants, judging panel, fans and the television viewers this incredible country and all it has to offer.”
India will be represented by Amrita. Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005, will represent the US as she competes with women from all corners of the globe for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2005. Chelsea, a North Carolina native, is a student at the Art Institute of Charlotte, where she is majoring in fashion marketing.
Australia’s Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, will participate in the evening’s show and crown her successor.
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.
