English Entertainment
Television sustains Los Angeles’ entertainment industry
MUMBAI: Television production is continuing a multi-year trend as the driving force behind Los Angeles’ production industry.
A report by the Los Angeles’ Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC) says that at the same time, local feature film production has declined significantly since its 1996 peak.
EIDC has determined television’s growing impact by analysing 10-year data comparing on-location permits for film vs. television production, as well as new data gathered from a survey of major production companies.
The number of on-location permits processed by EIDC for television production increased steadily during each of the past three years. This trend continues during 2005, as year-to-data numbers are up slightly over last year. But the situation for movie production is less encouraging. Local on-location permits for feature films peaked in 1996, and steadily declined more than 47 per cent over the next seven years, before increasing slightly in 2004.
EIDC president Steve MacDonald says, “There’s no question that incentives from other regions have been
effective in luring feature film production. We believe that feature production will not recover to the peak levels experienced during the mid-1990s without significant action by state and local government.”
While feature film producers are increasingly opting to leave Los Angeles, MacDonald says at least for now television is helping the region defend its status as the world’s entertainment production capital. “The increase in original programming by cable networks in recent years, combined with a shift away from reruns by the broadcast networks, has resulted in expanded TV production,” MacDonald explained.
EIDC’s survey of primetime broadcast TV production collected data about new, returning and mid-season replacement programmes scheduled to begin airing later this year on the broadcast networks. Full-season shows on broadcast networks typically produce 22 episodes per season, provided they are not cancelled during their production run. Mid-season replacements typically shoot 12 episodes per season, and begin airing in the winter. The exception is the reality genre, which produces anywhere from 6-22 episodes per season. Of the 134 scripted and reality episodic series on the primetime broadcast schedule, at least 96 (72 per cent) are being shot and produced in the Los Angeles area.
The financial impact of TV production on the regional economy is significant. Average production costs are estimated at $2 million per episode for one-hour dramas, $1.25 million per episode for half-hour scripted comedies, and $700,000 per episode for reality programs. These figures are just for costs directly related to production. They do not take into account
other costs such as marketing and studio administration.
MacDonald adds, “The impact of losing just one series to another region is considerable. For example, a single one-hour broadcast series that produces a full 22-episode season translates into $44 million in direct production-related activity for the local economy.”
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.
