English Entertainment
Ricky Gervais to return as host of Golden Globe Awards
MUMBAI: Returning to the same stage where he brought his acerbic sense of humor to Hollywood, Ricky Gervais has been named host of the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, set for 10 January, 2016.
The three-hour ceremony serves as the official kick-off to awards season and will be aired live on NBC in the US.
“We’re excited to have Ricky Gervais back to host the most enjoyable awards show of the season in his own inimitable way. Disarming and surprising, Ricky is ready to honor – and send up – the best work of the year in film and television. Fasten your seats belts,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt.
“Ricky Gervais left us with a lasting impression and we are thrilled to have him back in our show as we honor the best in film and television. His off-the-cuff wit and quirky charm will surely have the room and audiences around the world at the edge of their seats,” said Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Lorenzo Soria.
“What will he say? What will he do? We can’t wait to find out, and we are so happy that he’s back!,” said 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards executive producer and dick clark productions EVP – television Barry Adelman.
Gervais hosted the Globes for three consecutive years (2010-12) when the network registered ratings gains from the previous two telecasts. Over that 2010-12 span, the Golden Globes averaged a 5.2 rating in the 18-49 demo and 17 million viewers overall, which was a six per cent increase from the 2009 telecast in the demo and 14 per cent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (17 million vs. 14.9 million).
A winner of seven BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes and two Emmys, Gervais remains one of the most talented and respected comedian-actors working today. He created and currently stars in the Netflix series Derek, for which he has been Emmy nominated for two consecutive years.
Gervais first introduced himself to global audiences with his 2001 British TV hit The Office, in which he starred as his tragic creation, David Brent. He has also starred in shows like Extras, Life’s Too Short and The Ricky Gervais Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Louie, Sesame Street, The Simpsons and Family Guy.
On the film side, Gervais co-starred in several features, including the Night at the Museum franchise, Muppets Most Wanted, Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying, and is currently putting final touches to Special Correspondents, which he wrote and co-directed.
As a stand-up comedian, Gervais has sold over two million tickets in arenas around the world. He is also the author of the popular children’s book series Flanimals.
Nominations for the Golden Globes will be announced on 10 December. Winners in 25 categories – 14 in film and 11 in television – are voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Produced by dick clark productions in association with the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards include both motion picture and television achievements.
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.
