English Entertainment
‘Law and Order : SVU’ jacks up the emotional intensity
MUMBAI: In a bid to hook viewers further Law and Order Special victims Unit (SVU) will see an episode departing from the traditional show format. In the US the show airs on NBC while in India it airs on Star World. The episode shows detective Olivia Benson’s (Golden Globe Winner and two-time Emmy nominee Mariska Hargitay) persistence and dedication as she struggles to locate a nine-year old girl held captive at an undisclosed location, connected only by the cell phone left by her abductor. Law & Order: SVU’s executive producer Neal Baer says, “This show is a departure from our traditional format, because instead of jumping from one scene to the next, it focuses on Olivia in one room on the phone trying to locate this little girl for three acts and her determination no matter what the cost”. Hargitay says, “In the face of opposition from the entire department, including her captain, Olivia follows her gut instinct and will stop at nothing to save a young girl who has been sexually assaulted. I felt so passionate about this episode because it shows how my character would never give up no matter the risk to herself or her job.” Fully dressed for a night on the town, Benson puts her plans on hold when she receives disturbing 911 call from nine-year-old Maria Recinos held captive at an unknown location. Unable to physically locate her, Benson follows her gut in an attempt to find her. Recinos will only talk to Benson, and just as she is getting closer to finding her, the cops question the case and are now concerned that it could be a prank. Taxed by trying to keep Recinos calm and on the line while persuading her department to keep this case open, Benson knows this is real and needs to act quickly on what little information she has if she is going to save this girl’s life. Chris Meloni, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Diane Neal, Ice-T, B.D. Wong, and Tamara Tunie also star.
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.
