English Entertainment
Viacom and MGM enter into TV licensing pact for 15 James Bond films
Viacom-owned television networks The New TNN: The National Network, CBS, and UPN have announced a licensing agreement involving MGM Worldwide Television Distribution, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Under the terms of the agreement the networks have licensed the exclusive US television rights to 15 titles from MGM’s James Bond franchise from October 2002 through most of 2004.
The agreement represents the first time that the three Viacom networks have acquired programming in one negotiation. TNN will begin telecasting the Bond titles this October after the films complete their run on ABC.
The venture aims on capitalising on the fact that James Bond is celebrating his 40th anniversary this year. The 20th Bond film Die Another Day from MGM is due for release on 22 November. Viacom sees the agreement as complementing the previous licensing pact with CBS for the newer Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough.
Ratings and demographics for the Bond films continue to perform strongly in the US. Prior to the Olympics, the classic Bond pictures ranked number one in males 25-54 against all other network competition for ABC. During the Olympics, the films over-indexed ABC’s primetime average by 17 per cent with males 18-49. The titles available as per the new agreement include Dr. No, From Russia With Love, The Living Daylights and The Spy Who Loved Me.
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.
