English Entertainment
Nimbus floats Nirvana Television
MUMBAI: Nimbus Communications has announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Nirvana Television, which will produce ‘top quality television software that is bold, cutting edge and consumer focussed’.
Nirvana Television will be a one-stop shop for all creative ideas and individual talent, catering specifically to broadcaster-funded programming on cable and satellite channels, according to an official release. Nimbus Television, the existing software producing arm of Nimbus Communications, will continue to cater to advertiser-funded programming.
Nirvana Television will be headed by creative director Ajay Kapoor, who has to his credit shows like Jeeto Chappar Phad Ke, television events like Femina Miss India and awards shows like Filmfare Awards and Star Screen Awards. Some of the other shows conceived by him include Super 7 Muqabla, MTV’s Cricket in Control and Kuch Kehti Hai Yeh Dhun, which is currently on air on Sony.
Says Kapoor, “We want to focus on innovative and radical programming catering to Indian and international audiences. Our focus will be large scale and we intend to work with big name and top class talent, some of whom are already in the process of being signed on.”
Kapoor has been a producer/director on a number of live broadcasts of cricket events which include the Cricket World Cup 1999, Sharjah Cup 2000 and 2001, the Coca Cola Series – Sri Lanka 2001, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2002. In the field of sports, he pioneered the broadcast of Indian Horse Racing and Golf on satellite television, the release says.
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.
