English Entertainment
Star World to kick off medical soap ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ on 12 April
MUMBAI: English general entertainment channel Star World will start airing the medical soap Grey’s Anatomy every Wednesday at 9 pm from 12 April.
Nominated for three Emmy awards and winner of a Golden Globe Award for Sandra Oh as supporting actress, the medical drama following the lives of first year surgical interns Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers).It is the sexual tensions and relationship foibles in the hospital that’s making this one of the most exciting series to hit TV screens in recent years.
Also adding to the eye candy and star power is Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd – the flirtatious but very capable surgeon who shares a forbidden but undeniable sexual attraction with Meredith. The channel says that 16 million viewers tuned into the debut in the US.
The first episode is called A Hard Day’s Night. The interns are guided by an established team of doctors who are determined to shape them into skilled surgeons or break them: Miranda Bailey, a senior resident responsible for training them, is so tough that she’s nicknamed “The Nazi” and Preston Burke’s arrogance is second only to his skill with a scalpel. Overseeing them all is Dr. Richard Webber, Seattle Grace’s paternal, but no-nonsense chief of surgery.
On the next episode called The First Cut is the Deepest, the surgical staff tries to be optimistic as a young woman clings to life after a brutal attack. Meanwhile, Meredith puts her career on the line to save a newborn in the hospital nursery, and the other interns learn that it takes more than just medical knowledge to be good at their jobs.
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.
