English Entertainment
Paul McGuire named SVP, communications of The CW
MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation joint venture The CW, which is scheduled to launch in August this year has named Paul McGuire as senior vice president, communications. The CW is the new fifth broadcast television network.
The announcement was made by Dawn Ostroff, who is slated to become The CW’s president of entertainment.
In this new position, McGuire will work with Ostroff and John Maatta, The CW’s chief operating officer, to develop communications strategies to reach all the network’s key constituents in the programming, advertising and station communities.
He will also be responsible for orchestrating The CW’s launch campaign in the press, building its communications department and overseeing all publicity, media relations, internal communications and talent relations activities for the new network.
“Paul is a skilled and talented public relations executive whose respect from the press is matched only by the admiration of his peers. He is a brilliant strategist and manager whose intuitive understanding of the media landscape will be of enormous benefit in communicating The CW message to the press and all of our key constituents. In addition, Paul comes to The CW having worked at both UPN and The WB, providing a unique background and vantage point of what it takes to compete as the fifth broadcast network,” said Ostroff.
A veteran corporate communications strategist, McGuire has been senior vice president, network communications, The WB Television Network since 2001, where he directed and oversaw the Network’s corporate and consumer publicity campaigns as well as talent relations and photography.
From 1998 to 2001, McGuire was UPN media relations senior vice president, overseeing all corporate communications and planning and executing show publicity campaigns for the network.
Prior to that, he was NBC vice president, prime time program publicity, corporate communications, directing print publicity campaigns on behalf of ER, Seinfeld, Frasier and Law & Order in addition to the network’s other series, movies, miniseries and specials.
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.
