English Entertainment
‘Nefertiti Resurrected’ on Discovery 7 September
MUMBAI: As far as historical significance goes, this could well rival the discovery in 1922 of the tomb of the Egyptian boy-king Tutankhamen.
On Sunday, 17 August, Discovery will present a two-hour special to American viewers chronicling the expedition, including the discovery, of what is believed to be the remains of ancient Egypt’s stunningly beautiful Queen Nefertiti (also Tutankhamen’s stepmother). The programme will also attempt to recreate the compelling story of one of the great figures in Egyptian history.
Kicking off in India the next day (18 August) will be a massive multimedia campaign to promote Nefertiti Resurrected . The campaign will continue in the lead up to the show’s premiere in India on Sunday, 7 September.
In the US, promos for Nefertiti Resurrected had thousands of “missing” posters featuring a silhouette of a bust of Nefertiti being plastered on telephone poles in 11 US markets. Print ads were run in People, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Oprah’s O Magazine and Harpers Bazaar, along with heavy rotation on Lifetime. There will also be actresses dressed up as Nefertiti walking around New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC closer toward the launch date along with ‘Found’ posters plastered in eight markets, a Mediapost report says.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com about the channel’s new initiatives, Discovery India managing director Deepak Shourie said the plan was to increase the India-specific programming on the channel. Currently, Discovery has one hour of India-centric programming that airs every Saturday with a repeat on Sunday.
Shourie also drew attention to Atlas HD, an ambitious series of 30 two-hour, documentary specials on countries created specifically for high definition television (reported on indiantelevision.com in February). $65 million is what Discovery has budgeted for the series over the next five years.
The first episode is on India and is scheduled to air on Discovery and its HD service in 2005. The second episode is on China. Shourie said filming for the India episode was already under way.
Also Read:
Discovery uncovers possible Nefertiti Mummy
Discovery to spend $65m. on series meant for HDTV
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.
