English Entertainment
Warner announces senior team for global brand management group
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Time Warner has announced that its division Warner Bros. Entertainment’s global brand management has assembled its team of senior executives
Irika Slavin, Sandy Yi and Lisa St. Amand join Amber Fredman as Warner Bros. Entertainment VPs, global brand management. In their new posts, the four executives will support Warner Bros. global brand management’s directive to work with the company’s in-place marketing teams to enhance and enrich the Studio’s overall event and brand strategies. They will work as a broad-spectrum resource, collaborating and partnering cross-divisionally to optimise a property’s windows throughout its life.
Warner Bros. Entertainment executive VP, global brand management Diane Nelson said, “Our key brands and core properties are the Studio’s most valuable, as well as long-term and renewable assets. It is a testament, not only of our belief in Amber, Irika, Lisa and Sandy, but also of their abilities and talents, that we put the stewardship of these assets in their hands. Each of these women is a terrific executive who has already made great contributions to our company. Their knowledge, understanding and varied, diverse backgrounds will enable our group to provide numerous perspectives and insights that will benefit and enrich each of the businesses here at Warner Bros.”
Fredman has served in a similar capacity on the divisional level since joining Warner Bros. Pictures where she worked closely with Nelson on the Harry Potter franchise. On this new corporate team, Fredman will continue to focus on the Studio’s Harry Potter and adds Charlie and the Chocolate Factory properties as well as the upcoming film Corpse Bride. She will also assume oversight of the Looney Tunes brand starting from this point on.
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.
