English Entertainment
NBC, Fox & MTV sponsors of New York TV Fest
MUMBAI: The New York Television Festival (NYTVF), presented in association with TV Guide, has reached sponsorship agreements with NBC Universal, Fox Broadcasting Company and MTV Networks to become official network sponsors of the inaugural 2005 festival.
The new sponsorships enable NBC Universal, Fox and MTV Networks divisions, Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and VH1 Classic to join (in association with sponsor) TV Guide, A&E Networks, and Rainbow Media’s AMC, IFC and WE as official sponsors of the first ever New York Television Festival.
Launching on 28 September, the NYTVF will pioneer the movement of “independent television” and construct a new path for program development. In its Independent Pilot Competition, aspiring writers, directors and producers are selected through a national and international grassroots search and given the unprecedented opportunity to showcase their originally produced pilots directly to network and cable executives.
“The Festival is thrilled with the opportunity to work with NBC Universal, Fox and MTV Networks in our inaugural year,” said founder and executive director of the New York Television Festival Terence Gray. “Taken together, these networks reach a highly desirable audience of young, savvy viewers who have demonstrated an interest in unconventional, cutting-edge programming. These audiences not only reflect the spirit of creative innovation the festival is looking to establish, but also comprise many of the artists who will shape the industry in the future.”
“NBC Universal is pleased to sponsor this event,” says NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly. “We believe it’s important to support non-traditional forums like the New York Television Festival in their efforts to cultivate the next generation of innovative storytellers.”
One of the featured events at this year’s festival will be centered around the Emmy-winning comedy Arrested Development . On Saturday, 1 October, the festival will screen an episode of the critically acclaimed show, presenting it as a model of the type of innovative programming the festival is seeking to promote in its artists.
With TV Land, the festival has established a unique partnership that will provide NYTVF with clips of some of television’s most unforgettable moments, classic commercials, the network’s original interstitial comedy series 60 Second Sitcoms, as well as two upcoming originals from TV Land Productions. Additionally, TV Land will serve as the Festival’s exclusive sponsor of the spectacular open space on the second floor of Milk Studios that will serve as the main screening room.
The festival is adopting an innovative approach in its design concept for its screening rooms to create a unique, viewer-friendly experience for audiences.
Screening rooms will be designed to resemble spacious living rooms, individually branded and decorated along with network sponsors, to recreate the intimacy of watching television in your own home. NBC Universal, Fox, MTV Networks, A&E Networks and Rainbow Media will feature their own specially designed screening rooms within the impressive gallery space of Phillips, de Pury and Company, located in the same building as Milk.
The NYTVF will be working with one of New York’s most exclusive locations, the Soho House, as an industry venue. The members-only club, located in the heart of the Meatpacking District, will host special events for the festival and will serve as a featured venue for the NYTVF’s breakfast panel discussions series.
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.
