English Entertainment
‘Super Millionaire’ gives ABC a leg up in the ratings
MUMBAI: Star Plus may have decided not to restart the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati but recent ratings show that in the US viewers are still hooked onto this kind of game show format.
ABC aired the debut episode of its new show Super Millionaire with a prize money of $10 million on 22 February. The show averaged 17.5 million viewers and thus became that night?s most-watched programme. Reports indicate that the show held its own against HBO’s highly touted Sex And The City finale. It managed a 5.7 average among adults 18-49.
As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com the format is the same as Millionaire, which used to air on ABC till 2002. Ten finalists compete against each other in the fastest finger round to answer one question. The winner then attempts to navigate 15 multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty on a broad range of topics.
An AP report adds that for the week 16-22 February Super Millionaire finished No. 14 in the standings out of 133 prime-time shows. CBS’ acclaimed crime drama CSI topped the charts with 30.8 million viewers tuning in. In India the show airs on AXN. Fox’s music based reality show American Idol was placed second with 25.1 million viewers. An episode of NBC’s Friends got 24.2 million viewers to give the GE owned broadcaster the third spot.
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.
