English Entertainment
Sony’s English movie channel Pix launching on 1 April
MUMBAI: Mad about the movies! There were hugs all around as Sony announced the launch of its new English movie channel Pix on 1 April. There to do the honours was Hollywood superstar Will Smith.
According to Sony CFO NP Singh, Pix will be a pay channel and internal discussions are still going on to decide its pricing. Queried whether Pix would be part of Sony’s second bouquet or a new bouquet, Singh said the matter was still being debated.
What looks likely though, is that initially Sony will have to pay a carriage fee to the operators to ensure visibility. Set Pix, which promises to bring movies with captive story lines, targets young audiences below the age of 44 SEC A & B.
Says Pix business head Sunder Aaron, “As far as English films are concerned, while there are players that show the latest and the biggest, they miss a point. It is the human need for good stories, which is not being fulfilled. The aim of Pix will be to entertain with some of the best stories around both old and new.”
As regards titles, Pix will have access to the Sony MGM library. It can acess big titles from MGM like the upcoming Bond film Casino Royale and the new Pink Panther movie.
However, first runs of the big new titles from the Sony Pictures stable will not be available to Pix. These movies remain locked with HBO by virtue of the four studio joint venture agreement that exists for the Asian region. Universal, Sony Pictures, Paramount and Time Warner all have an equal 25 per cent stake each in HBO Asia. Fox, Disney (Buena Vista International Television) and Dreamworks films, meanwhile, first air on Star Movies in India.
Queried on why he had chosen to launch the channel in India, Smith, who was in an exuberant mood, said, “I have had a relationship with Sony for many years which includes the Bad Boys and Men In Black films. My next film, The Pursuit of Happiness is also a Sony film. Additionally, the idea of a new channel that stays focussed on the story is very appealing.
“I am very much interested in Indian cinema and enjoyed Sarkar. When I first read that 800 films are made every year in India I thought that it must be a typing error. It is amazing how schedules are managed to create this output. I think that there is a marriage to be made between the colour and depth of storytelling of Bollywood with Hollywood.”
“In the mid 1980s when technology started coming in it kind of took precedence over story telling. Now if you notice Americans have gone back to films that have strong stories. The big blockbusters are being rejected.”
When asked whether he was looking at having a relationship with Bollywood, Smith reiterated that business comes after art. “First I need to make an artistic connection with the producer, director. Business will flow after that.”
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.
