English Entertainment
Vh1 to air the latest season of The X Factor UK in India
MUMBAI: The most talked about TV show, The X Factor UK, is back on Vh1, yet again! This time, it’s back with some of the show’s most loved judges. The latest season of The X Factor will air in India on the 30 of August with a special two-episode premiere, following which, all-new episodes of the 13 season will be aired every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM only on Vh1.
This year, The X Factor will be graced by the presence of Rock royalty Sharon Osbourne, pop sensation Nicole Scherzinger and chart maestro Louis Walsh, who will all sit alongside The X Factor creator and music mogul Simon Cowell on the panel. This season, they will all join returning host, Dermot O’Leary, to kick off the new series. In addition, one of the fans’ favourite aspects of the show has been revived, the legendary “room auditions”.
Commenting upon the return of the show on Indian television screens, Viacom 18 Head of Marketing – English Entertainment Sabrina D’Souza shared, “The X Factor UK has always been a favourite amongst the Indian audience. With its cutting edge format and being the talent hub that it is, it has been a source of entertainment as well as an aspirational platform for our viewers. We are thrilled to air the latest season of this highly-anticipated show.”
Renowned for her straight-talking, Sharon Osbourne was one of the original X Factor judges, appearing on the panel from 2004 to 2007 and then again in 2013. Of course, Sharon also has more than 30 years experience in the music industry, managing some of the biggest bands in rock.
Speaking of her return, Sharon said: “I’m overjoyed about going back to The X Factor, sitting with Lou, gorgeous Nicole and naughty Simon. But most of all, I can’t wait to meet baby Eric.”
Nicole Scherzinger was a hugely popular judge on The X Factor in 2012 and 2013, securing victory in her first series with James Arthur and proving a huge hit with viewers for her enthusiastic and passionate approach. As a singer, Nicole has achieved global success, selling millions of records both as one of The Pussycat Dolls and then as a solo artist.
Nicole said: “I can’t wait to be back in the UK and on the show with the best judges sitting alongside me on the panel. I’m excited about discovering, mentoring and winning with an exciting new act this year. And having had winning contestants in the past, Simon knows I will do it.”
Music manager and X Factor legend Louis Walsh reprises his role on the panel, returning for a record-breaking 12th series as a UK X Factor judge.
Talking about his comeback, Louis said: “He’d say otherwise but I knew Simon missed me last year! I’m delighted to be back on the panel especially beside my two favourite female judges Sharon and Nicole, and I’m looking forward to taking them all back to Dublin this year when we head there for auditions.”
Talking about the new series, Simon warned: ‘Be careful what you wish for!’
Artists discovered by The X Factor have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 200 No. 1s, making it the most successful show in history for finding chart superstars. This includes One Direction, who have sold 70 million records worldwide; Olly Murs who has achieved success with four multi-platinum albums and total sales of more than 16 million and Little Mix who have sold 15 million records globally.
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.
