English Entertainment
Sushmita Sen, Ashley Judd in National Geographic documentary
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor and Miss Universe Sushmita Sen will join Hollywood actor Ashley Judd in a documentary on National Geographic channel to raise global awareness on HIV/AIDS. The NGC shoot will take place in the month of March when Ashley Judd comes to India. Judd is the PSI Global Ambassador.
The documentary will explore why women are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection and to increase awareness of the affliction.
PSI/India managing director Tim McLellan said, “We are honoured that Sushmita Sen has agreed to partner Ashley Judd in this documentary film for National Geographic channel. She is known for her commitment to women empowerment and this film is all about women empowerment and HIV/Aids awareness.”
PSI/India is a not-for-profit organization working in the areas of health & women’s empowerment. It uses social marketing to achieve positive behaviour change through the promotion of ideas, products and services conducive to better health. PSI/India is also an active partner in the government’s contraceptive social marketing program
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.
