English Entertainment
Witness the ultimate battle of music icons at the 2018 Europe Music Awards, exclusively on Vh1
MUMBAI: Bridging the distance between the biggest popstars and their adherent followers, Vh1 will exclusively televise the 2018 Europe Music Awards directly from the Bizkaia Arena at Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Spain. As the generation’s most-followed musicians including Camila Cabello, Ariana Grande, Post Malone, Drake & many more vie for one of the most coveted awards of the industry; several up-and-coming artists like Hayley Kiyoko, Bazzi and Jessie Reyez look to make their mark at the awards. The telecast commences with the red carpet at 6am IST, followed by the award ceremony at 7am IST, on Monday, November 5, 2018, exclusively on Vh1.
Representing the Indian music scene with their innovative and original music videos, Raja Kumari ft. Divine (City Slums), Monica Dogra & Curtain Blue (Spell), Big-Ri & Meba Ofilia (Done Talking), Skyharbor (Dim) and Nikhil D’Souza (Silver and Gold) have rightly earned their spot as nominees in the ‘Best India Act’ category.
For the first time ever, at the 2018 awards, MTV EMA is recognizing the inspiring, young changemakers of the world with the ‘MTV EMA Generation Change’ award. The five changemakers nominated for the award this year are Xiuhtezcatl ‘X’ Martinez, Sonita Alizadeh, Mohamed Al Jounde, Hauwa Ojeifo and Ellen Jones. No older than 25 years, each changemaker represents a different cause, tackling some of the world's toughest problems in substantial ways.
Commenting on the exciting 2018 EMAs, Hashim Dsouza – Head of Programming, English Entertainment, Viacom18, said, “Across the globe, ardent fans of music look forward to prestigious award ceremonies such as the VMAs and EMAs, where they can watch all their favorite artists on one platform. International music has carved a very strong fanbase in India with Vh1 leading the charge by showcasing the most sought-after music events to this ever-growing fanbase. Following the impressive build-up to this year’s EMAs, the caliber of nominated artists and the Indian representation, passionate viewers can expect a dazzling affair at the 2018 Europe Music Awards.”
Leading up to the awards, five-time EMA-winners Muse and electronic-folk darlings Crystal Fighters will be performing on the night before at the MTV World Stage concert. While Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj and many more popular artists take stage on the grand night, multi-talented Hailee Steinfeld will host the award show.
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.
