English Entertainment
Nat Geo partners with CBeebies, King Rollo Films for new show
MUMBAI: US media firm National Geographic Kids Entertainment (NGKE) and King Rollo Films have partnered with the BBC’s kids channel CBeebies to co-produce the live-action/animated preschool series Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies.
CBeebies will also contribute archival footage to complement the resources provided by National Geographic. The agreement was announced by National Geographic Kids Entertainment president Donna Friedman Meir.
The co-production deal gives CBeebies rights to broadcast the program in the UK and Eire and to license consumer products and home video in these territories. NGKE’s sister company, National Geographic Television International (NGTI), retains programme sales and equivalent licensing/home video rights for all remaining worldwide territories. CBeebies will begin airing Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies next year.
NGKE, NGTI and CBeebies plan to develop Mama Mirabelle into a multimedia franchise encompassing television, DVD/video, VOD, mobile phone and interactive online content.
Meir says, “We are thrilled to be partnering with CBeebies, given their extraordinary legacy as a producer of outstanding children’s programming. Their support for ‘Mama Mirabelle’ is a fantastic seal of approval for our first preschool series. There is a natural fit between the BBC and National Geographic brands, and we look forward to developing our relationship so that we can continue to bring such lovable characters and high-quality programming to U.K. and global audiences.”
Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies features an inquisitive cast of baby animal characters, including regulars Bo the cheetah cub; Karla the zebra foal; Max the elephant calf; monkeys Pip, Flip and Chip; and their maternal elephant host, Mama Mirabelle. Each day the animals gather in the savannah to watch home videos of themselves and other amazing creatures of the natural world. Through lighthearted and heartwarming interaction, Mama helps the baby animals find answers to many of life’s questions from a preschooler’s perspective.
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.
