English Entertainment
Star World to launch sitcom ‘The office’
MUMBAI: Star World is all set to launch a new comedy seriesThe Office. The show will premiere on 4 September at 10:30 pm.
The sitcom emphasis on office politics, management jargon, sycophants, malicious gossip, practical jokes, jealousies, frustration; and, of course, the occasional knife in the back.
The Office is all about working life and the underpaid dead-end job, irritating colleagues and a smug, sexist boss, a place where trivial things take on a ridiculous importance. The office is set in a branch of Wernham Hoggs, a stationary company outside of London, informs an official release.
The actor Ricky Gervais gives a masterful performance as regional manager David Brent, at the branch in Wernham Hogg. He fancies himself as a great team leader using humour to win the loyalty of his staff. But, though he believes he behaves like one of the lads, he leaves no one in doubt who’s in charge.
He is petty and pompous, a liar and hypocrite, sexist and insensitive, and he winds up his staff almost to the point of hysteria. Women are the butt of crude jokes; he talks entirely in clichés and attempts at humour are appalling, although everyone feels obliged to laugh at them. Worst of all, he reassures his staff that no one will lose their jobs, even though he knows there’s a good chance that the branch will be forced to close, adds the release.
The Office is a wonderfully observed comedy filmed documentary style and features a cast of brilliant new talent. It has won many prestigious awards including two Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy of Films and Television Arts (BAFTAs) and 17 international television awards.
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.
