English Entertainment
Star India’s English cluster to air 67th Emmy Awards live
MUMBAI: Star India’s English general entertainment channels (GECs) will telecast the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards to Indian audiences on21 September, 2015.
Touted as the Oscars of the small screen, this glamorous gala will be simulcast LIVE on Star World, Star World HD, Star World Premiere HD and FX, and the primetime telecast on Star World, Star World HD and FX. The Network has a staggering 98 nominations across categories for this year’s Emmys.
The Star network aired more than 50 shows and 28 of those are vying for the trophy within all major contested categories this year. American Horror Story has bagged 19 nominations – coming second in line for most nominations in any category. Following closely are Mad Men with 11 and Downton Abbey with eight nominations. Other notable nominations include Emmys darling Modern Family and Louie with six nods each, while Homeland and The Simpsons received five nominations each.
“Like every year, our shows find themselves as top contenders of the Emmys, which only reflects the quality and excellence of the content we curate on our channels. It gives us great pride to become broadcasting partners with the Primetime Emmy Awards once again,” said a Star India official spokesperson.
Girl-power runs high at the Emmys this year with strong independent television characters portrayed by Claire Danes (Homeland), Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder), Taraji P. Henson (Empire) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category.
Not far behind, the gentlemen have blown away viewers with their funny performances, with Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), Matt LeBlanc (Episodes), Louis CK (Louie) and Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category.
Star World’s soon-to-premiere Jimmy Kimmel Live has garnered a nomination for the Outstanding Variety Talk Series category as well.
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.
