English Entertainment
Viacom18 kicks off the international award season in 2018 with the 75th Golden Globe Awards
MUMBAI: As the New Year brings about a new season of International awards; Viacom18 is all set to bring the best of them on their channels. Viacom18 commences the year with the 75th Golden Globe Awards; where viewers will see the best of American Film & Television compete for the most coveted award in the industry. The star-studded evening, along with superbly impressive and power packed performances will air on channels across the English Entertainment cluster under Viacom18’s banner, on January 8, 2018.
The 75th year of the awards will also witness a special celebration, as Will & Grace stars Eric McCormack and Debra Messing host a two-hour long, star studded Golden Globes: 75th Anniversary Special a day prior to the grand awards night. A nostalgic walk down memory lane; the special will relive the best moments across the last 74 years of the Golden Globe Awards, and will feature Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and many more. Viacom18’s English Entertainment channels will simulcast the anniversary special for Indian viewers, on January 7, 2018.
This year, leading the pack with seven nominations is The Shape Of Water, closely followed by The Post and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing in the movie category. The Shape Of Water dominates the nominations with contenders across three categories- Best Picture, Director and Best Actress. While in the TV category, Big Little Lies leads with 6 nominations, shows from COLORS INFINITY like The Good Doctor, Fargo, Better Call Saul, Mr. Robot; and Comedy Central hit series, Will & Grace, are also in race for the coveted title. Crediting her incredible impact on the world of entertainment, philanthropist, producer and actress, Oprah Winfrey will receive the coveted Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Following the legacy of Jimmy Fallon, Ricky Gervais, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey, the renowned comedian and commentator, Seth Meyers, will host the awards.
Commenting on the simulcast of the Golden Globe Awards, Viacom18, Programming Head – English Entertainment, Hashim D’Souza shared, “In our continuous effort to bring the best of English content on our channels this year, we are thrilled to kick start January with one of the most prestigious awards, airing simultaneously across all our English Entertainment channels. With a delightful mix of acclaimed TV shows, movies and music, the excitement generated by the Golden Globe Awards is unparalleled. We aim to make the experience even more exhilarating through on-ground integrations planned for our consumers”
To make the experience more gratifying for viewers, Vh1 is celebrating the glamour of the night with special red-carpet nights & split trivia nights at nightspots across 15+ cities. In addition, specially curated playlists, gym workouts and styling sessions at salons with bloggers are being curated to get the audience ready to kick off the awards season.
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.
