English Entertainment
WGA-US TV producers talks to continue Wednesday
MUMBAI: The next few days could prove crucial to the American film and television industry. The Writers Guild Of America (WGA) has not yet been able to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in the US.
The WGA and AMPTP along with the four broadcast networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox will continue deliberations on 5 May. The Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) between the guilds and the companies had expired yesterday.
This is a far cry from the situation in India where writers are given short shrift. There are cases where people are given their payments several months or even a year later after completing their task. Because there is no union as such at the most what you have are prompt but poor paymasters.
In the US on the other hand talks have been focused on a number of issues. These include health benefits, cuts from DVDs, made-for-Pay TV, sequel and character payments, Daytime TV, travel allowances. The DVD arena is one of the major concerns for the parties. While the WGA wants a larger slice of the pie the producers are said to be flat out against it citing rising production costs. The DVD market is estimated at $15 billion but the producers are claiming that if it had not been for DVDs, which are outstripping theatre grosses they would have great difficulty recouping their investments.
The talks are heavily under wraps and news outlets have not been made privy to the discussions. Negotiations have been going on for over a month in Hollywood. The possibility of a similar strike that took place a few years ago by Sag is not beyond the realms of possibility. The last time the WGA went on strike was way back in 1988. Meanwhile a report in Variety has indicated that the strike needs to be resolved before 17 May. That is when the broadcasters will have their upfront meeting with the ad community.
Lending weight to the WGA’s cause is the fact that members of fellow unions Sag, Aftra and the DGA have been at the talks.
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.
