English Entertainment
The ‘jazzy’ Mumbai Festival to be telecast on VH1
MUMBAI: The Mumbai Festival at the Gateway of India, which is being presented by exclusively MTV Networks India in association with BET Jazz, the US Department of State will see the greatest living exponents of the art of Jazz – Al Jarreau, George Duke, Ravi Coltrane, and Earl Klugh along with members of The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, perform live as part of the closing ceremony of the fest on 16 January, 2005.
The concert will be telecast on MTV Networks recently launched channel in India – VH1.
MTV Networks India MD Alex Kuruvilla said, “Music knows no boundaries. MTV Networks India is proud to be associated with the historic performances by American Jazz giants and to be a part of bringing together people and countries. It is only fitting that legendary jazz artistes like Al Jarreau, George Duke, Ravi Coltrane and Earl Klugh along with members of the Thelonious Monk Institute will be part of the closing ceremony of The Mumbai Festival, to be held at a significant, historical landmark – the legendary Gateway of India.”
Encouraging interaction between Indian and American cultures, Secretary of State Colin Powel, announced the India tour of these American greats to the world press on 14 December, 2004 in Washington.
Air India (the official Travel Partner for the event) director-public relations Jitender Bhargava said, “Air-India, which has been an integral part of Mumbai city’s social and cultural life, takes pride in its association with the Jazz Masters concert being organised as part of the Mumbai Festival.”
The performance by the Jazz greats on 16 January will be the grand finale of the Mumbai Festival, a unique event designed to place Indias most vibrant metropolis on the world map as a leading Cultural Tourism destination. The 10-day festival will be inaugurated by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and the Union Minister of State for Tourism, Renuka Choudhury on 7 January, 2005.
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.
