English Entertainment
Vice Media partners with A+ E Networks to launch own cable TV channel Viceland
MUMBAI: Vice Media is all set to launch its cable TV channel in partnership with A+E Networks. With this move, Vice will become the first digital media company to have its own cable TV channel. The new channel, Viceland will go live from 14 March 2016. Catering to a younger audience, the channel aims at reinventing traditional TV ad model and has rostered majority advertisers.
The channel will carry only about half of the 18 minutes of ads that most cable networks air in an hour of programming. Advertisers on board are Unilever PLC, Bank of America Corp., Smirnoff maker Diageo PLC, watch and apparel maker Shinola, Bushmills whiskey, Mailchimp, Samsung Electronics Co., T-Mobile US Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp.
Within six months’, Viceland wants roughly half its advertising inventory to be made up of native ads packaged to look like editorial content and keep audiences from tuning out. These spots will frequently be longer than a typical 30-second ad and will be tailored specifically for the network.
Talking about the new launch, Viceland co-president and Vice chief creative officer Eddy Moretti informed the Wall Street Journal, “We are trying to displace the clutter by injecting some humanity and authenticity.” He further added, “If we create a user experience that is more engaging than what else is on the dial, people won’t flip.”
Vice, which was valued at nearly $4.5 billion last year in a recent funding round, isn’t alone in identifying that the barrage of traditional ads that appear on most cable channels are a turnoff for viewers, particularly younger ones who have grown up with Netflix, DVRs and ad-blocking software.
This is Vice’s second foray into content, when Vice Media had made its first foray into basic cable nearly a decade ago, with programming on MTV2, but its scrappy documentaries sent advertisers fleeing.
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.
