English Entertainment
Oprah tops ‘Forbes’ list of richest women in entertainment
MUMBAI: The annual Forbes magazine list has put out its list of the wealthiest women in entertainment and there are no new surprises on who occupies the top spot.
U.S. talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey tops the list with an an estimated $1.5 billion during her career. JK Rowling, who is finishing the seventh and final instalment in her boy wizard series Harry Potter, ranks second with $1 billion. Martha Stewart another talk show host is third with $638 million.
Madonna ranks fourth with $325 million, followed by Celine Dion ($250 million), Mariah Carey ($225 million), Janet Jackson ($150 million), Julia Roberts ($140 million), and Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez (both $110 million).
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the twin actresses who started out on the ’80s comedy Full House and created a multimedia empire, Dualstar Entertainment Group, are No. 11 with an estimated “combined net worth at around $100 million,” Forbes said. They’re followed by Britney Spears, Judge Judy Sheindlin of TV’s Judge Judy, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Gisele Bundchen, Ellen DeGeneres, Nicole Kidman, Christina Aguilera and Renee Zellweger. Forbes stated that to make its top-20 list these female megastars needed a minimum net worth of $45 million amassed over the course of their careers.
Oprah Winfrey, $1.5 billion
J.K. Rowling, $1 billion
Martha Stewart, $638 million
Madonna, $325 million
Celine Dion, $250 million
Mariah Carey, $225 million
Janet Jackson, $150 million
Julia Roberts, $140 million
Jennifer Lopez, $110 million
Jennifer Aniston, $110 million
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, $100 million
Britney Spears, $100 million
Judge Judy Sheindlin, $95 million
Sandra Bullock, $85 million
Cameron Diaz, $75 million
Gisele Bundchen, $70 million
Ellen DeGeneres, $65 million
Nicole Kidman, $60 million
Christina Aguilera, $60 million
Renée Zellweger, $45 million
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.
