English Entertainment
Vh1 unveils summer line-up of shows
MUMBAI: This summer, Vh1 has lined up a slew of shows to enthrall viewers. Vh1 has commenced its non-stop summer entertainment with Asia’s Got Talent. The talent hunt will be followed by the launch of Vh1’s Get with It movement, new seasons of Catfish: The TV Show, 2015 Billboard Music Awards, Hollywood Film Awards and the new season of Britain’s Got Talent.
Viacom18 executive vice president and business head, English entertainment Ferzad Palia said, “Our previous showcase of international reality shows and LIVE international awards on Vh1 have received overwhelming response. We take the mandate of entertaining our viewers forward with fresher and more eclectic offerings. New seasons of the immensely popular Catfish and Britain’s Got Talent, a simulcast broadcast of Asia’s Got Talent and the 2015 Billboard Music Awards airing live – we are excited to present our new summer line-up to our audiences.”
The first-ever season of Asia’s Got Talent premiered in India on 18 April, with Grammy-winning musician David Foster and UK pop sensation & former Spice Girl, Melanie C seated on the judges’ thrones. The new season will see hopefuls from across Asia showcasing their talent to the world – celebrities in their own right, Indian sand-artist Nitesh Bharati, martial-arts experts Bir Khalsa, Opera singer Toshanbor, popular child artiste Akshat Singh, will be among contenders for the Asia top title.
Vh1’s Get with It movement brings to its followers a plethora of new activities with a resounding message to rebel against the lazy. With this movement Vh1 will guide people through the various activities, programs and events out there associated with being “cool”. From skydiving to mixed martial arts, this movement is all about getting people out of their comfort zones and discovering and participating in activities which they would have never otherwise imagined or considered.
The reality fever on Vh1 will continue with latest season premieres of Catfish: The TV Show Season 4, which will launch on 4 May and Britain’s Got Talent Season 9, which will go on air on 1 June. While Catfish returns with its fourth season with more peculiar characters and fresher stories, Britain’s Got Talent gears up for its ninth season with its popular judging panel comprising Simon Cowell, David Williams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. The peppy pack will be joined once again by the famous duo Ant and Dec.
The channel will air the Hollywood Film Awards on 27 April and the 2015 Billboard Music Awards LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 18 May. The evening, hosted by Hip Hop artist and actor Ludacris along with TV host and supermodel Chrissy Teigen, will showcase this year’s favourite musical acts and biggest music stars.
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.
