English Entertainment
MTV US plans a rejig; decides to rope in celebrity talents
MUMBAI: MTV has announced its plans for vigorous development of its programming and is in the process of zeroing in on a broad pool of talent for its US feed.
The channel has decided to introduce fresh fare on Ten Spots. It has already negotiated pilot deals with celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Frankie Muniz, Fonzworth Bentley with P Diddy, Andre Harrell, Wilmer Valderrama, Stan Lee, Omarion from B2K, Rob Zombie and Lizzie Grubman.
In a bid to maintain its leadership position, as a company release claims, the music channel has commissioned pilots encompassing a range of subjects from animation to street racing to reality to music to news documentaries. All the projects are aimed at capturing the interests and lifestyles of the young adult audience.
These new projects are aimed at bolstering MTV’s wildly successful Ten Spot and Sunday Stew programming blocks throughout 2004-2005, says the release.
The channel also announced that it is developing a new music performance series with Jay-Z named Ultimate- Live- Mash Ups. The show would bring artists from different musical genres together to mesh their distinctive musical styles into one powerful new sound, before a live audience.
“MTV’s Ten Spot is not only the most watched block of television among 12-34 year olds but it has also grown tremendously – up 260 per cent- against the previous three-year period. For years, our constant state of development has allowed us to always have something new to offer our audiences, who have voracious appetites for fresh programming. With this, we’ll ensure that Ten Spot remains a must-watch for our viewers,” offered MTV president, programming, Brian Graden.
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.
