English Entertainment
New comedy series ‘Togetherness’ to premiere in India
MUMBAI: A brand new series Togetherness is all set to premiere in India just within 24 hours of its US premiere. The new 8 episode series explores deeper issues related to friendship, careers and approaching middle age, celebrating the small, everyday moments of life that feel epic. It is also the TV debut as a writing team of brothers Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass.
Series regulars include writer-director-producer Mark Duplass as Brett Pierson, Melanie Lynskey as Michelle Pierson, Amanda Peet as Tina Morris and Steve Zissis as struggling actor Alex Pappas.
The plot is about Brett and Michelle who are struggling to rekindle the spark in their relationship, which has fiddled out from the hassles of marriage and children. When Brett’s friend, Alex and Michelle’s sister, Tina, move in with them, the foursome engage in a tragically comedic struggle to follow their personal dreams, while still remaining good friends, siblings and spouses to each other.
Guest stars include Peter Gallagher (The O.C.) as Larry, a movie producer; John Ortiz (HBO’s Luck) as David, a divorced dad campaigning for a charter school; and Mary Steenburgen (Joan of Arcadia) as Linda, a free spirit who takes an interest in helping Brett come out of his shell.
Catch the show from Monday, 12 January 2015 on the exclusively 100% ad-free on HBO Premium Channel, HBO Defined.
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.
