English Entertainment
TV France Intl set for 9th ‘Le Rendez-Vous’ 8-12 September
MUMBAI: TV France International will showcase the latest TV content offerings to global buyers through its annual trade event Le Rendez-Vous .
The ninth edition of Rendez-Vous. held from 8-12 September in Saint-Tropez, will bring together 173 buyers from 114 foreign television channels from more than 48 countries and 44 French production and distribution companies.
A press release claims that Le Rendez-Vous 2003 will witness a strong attendance from Middle East buyers in the wake of the Beirut Showcase organised by TV France International in April. For the first time, some of the programmes in the video library will be digitised for enhanced screening conditions, say the release.
The release adds that 116 titles will be available in the digital video library out of the 675 programmes (around 70 per cent of which are brand new) that are presented. The release says that the timing is apt – introducing these programmes to the international market a month ahead of MIPCOM gives French distributors a competitive edge.
The 2002 results of the annual report on ‘The international components of the French production’ carried out with INA (Institute National de l’Audiovisuel), CNC and DDM (Direction du Développement des Médias) will once again be unveiled at Le Rendez-Vous. The press conference will take place on 9 September.
The total amount of sales, pre-sales and revenue in co-production reached 3,355 million euros in 2000, says the release.
On 13 September, three press meetings will be held. Three companies – France Television Distribution, MK2 and Article Z – will be presenting the most recent and exciting programmes to be launched on the international market at Le Rendez-Vous 2003.
Some of the recent examples of French programme sales are – Fellini, sono un gran bugiardo feature film, 100, and Chaplin Today series, 1OX 26′ and have been sold to 20 countries.
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.
