English Entertainment
Sitcoms, crime shows waning in the US
MUMBAI: With Friends and Frasier coming to a close earlier this year the share of sitcoms in primetime programming in the US has gone down. However the amount of content devoted to teen shows is on the up.
A study was conducted by the Chicano Studies Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2002 sitcoms occupied 21.8 per cent of prime-time
hours and in 2003, 21.7 per cent. This year the share dropped sharply to 15.5 per cent. Last year, crime shows constituted 22.7 per cent of prime-time hours. This year they occupy just 15.5 per cent.
More teen shows fill the mediascape this year. This trend that might be attributed to the economic benefits received by the US networks when they create shows that appeal to youth audiences. Five per cent of primetime hours are dedicated to the teen scene. Even CBS, a network known for its persistent courting of the 25-54 yearold age group, has programmed a teen series this year, Clubhouse..
The rise of reality programming this year has come at the expense of sitcoms and crime shows. Reality series now dominate prime-time, occupying 21 hours of programming time and making up 20 per cent of prime-time hours. They are money-savers for the networks because they are cheap to produce, but they also maintain high viewership and promote viewer feedback, particularly vis-à-vis the internet.
Both NBC and UPN are also saving money with their wildly popular reality shows The Apprentice and Americas Next Top Model by airing the same episode twice in one week.
Another study conducted by the same organisation found that the US networks are giving short shrift to minority characters. Television series feature largely white casts even when the setting is an ethnically diverse city such as Los Angeles or New York. While Los Angeles County’s population is nearly 45 per cent Hispanic, Hispanics accounted for only 14 per cent of characters seen regularly on the eight 2004 primetime series set in Los Angeles.
There were no Asian-American regular characters, the study found, although this ethnic group makes up 12 per cent of Los Angeles County’s population. One of the show that is set in an ethnically diverse city but has an all-white cast is the sitcom Joey.
On reality shows, white male hosts are the standard, the study found. The Next Great Champ, which aired on Fox before moving to Fox Sports due to disappointing ratings had the sole Hispanic host with boxer Oscar De La Hoya. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN and WB fell short of demographic representation, although ABC “shows promise” with its roster of Hispanic characters, according to the study.
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.
