English Entertainment
US based Motion Picture and TV Fund event raise $4 million
MUMBAI: US based The Motion Picture And Television Fund (MPTF) which works towards bettering the living conditions of workers within America’s film and television industry held a Night Before benefit event in Beverly Hills.
The event which raised $ 4 million has been called the Night Before because it took place the night before the Oscars were held. In India the Oscars aired on Star Movies on 28 February.
Top names in the entertainment industry joined representatives of the sponsoring companies for the event. The event which is in its third year had Variety, Hewlett-Packard and Ford sponsoring the do.
The MPTF also welcomed first-time sponsors Target, JP Morgan Chase and America Online, who added to the fun and excitement for all the guests on hand. Celebrity attendees included Oscar winner Jamie Foxx Ray, Oscar nominees Leonardo DiCaprio The Aviator and Don Cheadle Hotel Rwanda as well as Desperate Housewife Teri Hatcher
Variety arranged for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his crew to have a demonstration kitchen in the midst of the party. The inimitable culinary wizard served up delectable dishes for the partygoers to sample and took the opportunity to pass on a few trade secrets during the course of the evening.
Variety also arranged for departing guests to have something to commemorate the evening, while giving them a lasting reminder of the reason for the benefit. Getting into their cars, attendees found a copy of the book Behind the Silver Screen: Stories From Residents of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Retirement Community, . This features photographs of some of the residents-then and now-and chronicles their widely varied careers and contributions to the entertainment industry.
HP meanwhile provided guests with its version of the Apple iPod. Additionally, guests were able to choose from one of several “tattoos” to personalise and dress up their iPods, which were designed for the occasion by the likes of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson and Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette.
JP Morgan Chase hosted a sweepstake. One guest received a ticket for a courtside box for six people at the Women’s Final of the US Open Tennis Championships, scheduled to take place in September in New York.
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.
