English Entertainment
FX India celebrates Doctor Who’s 52nd Birthday as #TARDISdayOnFX trends
MUMBAI: FX India has partnered with Havas Media India and wowed and engaged Doctor Who audiences in India through November making the 23rd a super memorable day in their lives!
Doctor Who, the world’s longest running sci-fi show which premiered on BBC, November 23, 1963 has Whovians (fans), across the globe. Every year, The Doctor’s birthday is celebrated as TARDIS Day named after his Time Machine/Spacecraft and is one of the biggest events of the year for every Whovian.
Doctor Who being one of the most appreciated shows on social media, FX India wanted to do something special for the Indian Whovians. What better way than a digital one-on-one with The Doctor himself – Peter Capaldi! Whovians could ask ‘that’ one question they always wanted to; and the contest winners would have their answer.
The ball was set rolling by informing active fan clubs on Facebook that something big was coming their way. Keeping true to the show’s legacy they were informed of a chance of being a part of the next best thing to a ‘Companion’, a Doctor Who sidekick. This was done on Twitter as well.
The tremendous response had fan clubs in the teaser stage actively sharing content as discussions ensued! The engagement for 24 hours from the first teaser was more than the previous 10 days put together. Further, Whovians shared the customised activity collateral. On Twitter, #AskDoctorWhoOnFX flooded itself on timelines everywhere with over 700,000 impressions in just 3 hours.
Enthusiastic Whovians asked a total of 108 questions on Facebook & Twitter!
To make sure that PeterCapaldi could answer as many fans questions as possible, a shortlist with the most frequently asked questions was drawn up – Peter’s opinion on something or the telling of his experiences.
The questions were answered on air and digital on TARDIS day, November 23, 2015. The day was made extra special by holding an online contest for fans as a throwback to the 52 years of Doctor Who. This received an enthusiastic response from eager fans such that #TARDISdayOnFX – trended for over 16 hours on a national scale, trumping even the hottest topics of the day!
The celebrations saw #TARDISdayOnFXgather over 21.5 million impressions with over 7,000 tweets from 400+ contributors. As a special treat for the fans, TARDIS day wishes from The Doctor was shared via a video link
https://www.facebook.com/FXIndia/videos/vb.117763098286699/1278489708880693/?engine=2&theater
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.
