English Entertainment
WWE inks deal with CJ Media in Korea
MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is spreading its wings across Asia. It has announced a three-year, multi-million dollar agreement with CJ Media which is one of Korea’s largest media and entertainment corporations.
In India, viewers can catch WWE action on Ten Sports. Recently, Ten renewed the deal till 2009.
As per the deal with CJ Media the WWE will provide 1,400 hours of original programming starting in 2005 through January 2008. CJ Media is CJ Group’s television and entertainment arm with major interests in film production, theatrical exhibition and distribution. It also operates Korea’s second largest multi-channel provider.
WWE’s programming will appear on the new youth-oriented channel XTM and will be available in more than 10 million homes in Korea. Among the programmes that will appear on XTM are Raw, SmackDown!, as well as monthly spectaculars like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.
WWE’S International TV Group senior VP and MD Andrew Whitaker, said, “This is a landmark deal for WWE in the enormously important Korean market. Partnering with a company like CJ Media is yet another example of the WWE brand delivering for broadcasters. And we are sure this will provide an entry point for WWE to operate in other emerging platform spaces.”
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.
