GECs

Marathi GECs improvise to engage viewers during lockdown

Published

6 years ago

May 30, 2020

MUMBAI: Given the dearth of fresh content, Marathi GECs had to come up with ways to fill airtime. Some are running dubbed versions of Hindi hit shows during the Covid2019 lockdown while others have fresh content such as those shot by actors. However, the most common trend in all of these channels is comedy shows.

Fakt Marathi, a sister channel of Enterr10 and Dangal, relied on humour and spirituality to create engagement with the audience. The channel has grown 30-35 per cent in terms of viewership in the last six weeks of lockdown on average in the urban market.

Explaining its content strategy, Fakt Marathi co-promoter Shirish Pattanshetty says, “We are re-running archived content and a repeat of Marathi dubbed version of Hindi hit show, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, along with other certain shows that the market has not seen so far.” The show has been running on the channel for 100-plus days now, and the process of dubbing for new content will begin from 1 June with producers likely to submit it to the channel when lockdown opens up.

"We have certain shows in the bank that were never exploited and these traditional shows have the power to connect with the audience and were acquired from a Marathi broadcaster, who shut shop a few years back," says Pattanshetty. He adds, "Shows like Khel Savalyancha, Krupa Sindhu Brahmand Nayak, Madam Sasu help us change our sampling size and with other channels burning their niche properties, they tend to lose their loyal viewers who try to find an alternative in the same sphere.”

At this juncture, the broadcasters' only focus is to create stickiness, keep viewers engaged, as due to economic crunch the overall advertising revenue across the Marathi GEC market has shrunk by 70 per cent, says Pattanshetty. “Our advertising revenue in the last two months has fallen to the tune of 65-70 per cent, because shops and establishments are not open and except for essential services brands are not promoting anything else.”

Sony Marathi became the first channel to come up with a remotely produced comedy show called, Aatshe Khidkya Naushe Daara, despite being under lockdown. The show features 16 actors playing various characters; these artists themselves have shot their bit and later have been given flow at the editing table. The show’s plot was how residents of a typical housing society gossip about each other.

“Considering this tough time as an opportunity to innovate and set higher benchmarks for the Marathi GEC space and rather acquiring content library inorganically, we thought of creating a new show which helps stick to our standards to keep viewers engaged with fresh content,” says Sony Marathi business head Ajay Bhalwankar.

“The logistical constraints of creating this show were huge,” explains Bhalwankar. “This show helped us understand that limitation on resources is actually conducive for innovation and we will continue to do so in the future also.”

The channel believes that the content shown on the platform should create an impact on viewers’ lives rather than just evaluating it on the basis of viewership.

From popular fiction shows such as Sukhachya Sarini He Mann Baware, Raja Rani Chi Ga Jodi, Jeev Zala Yedapisa and Balumamachya Navana Changbhala to exciting non-fiction reality shows like Sur Nava Dhyas Nava and Big Boss Marathi to comedy shows like Comedy Chi Bullet Train, Colors Marathi has kept viewers entertained with content they love and resonate with.

Says Viacom18 business head – Marathi entertainment Nikhil Sane: “Despite working remotely, we are brainstorming on our comeback strategy with fresh and original content, once permissions to shoot are granted and the situation stabilises.” The channel is currently dependent on its prime properties such as Bigg Boss Marathi and Comedy Chi Bullet Train to drive the viewership growth.

On the contrary, Pattanshetty says, “All production houses are excited to come back and start creating fresh content, but I personally believe that it’s not going to be easy; producers might not be able to shoot good content with limited resources. Also, a fear of Covid2019 can put any show on and off. If anybody at a particular shooting location is infected then the show could go for a toss.”

He believes that broadcasters will look at creating a bank of at least two-three weeks before going live.

Days DigitalKites senior vice-president Amit Lall, “Currently, no brand is looking at show sponsorship. Rather, they are doing run-on networks, wherein they seek certain impressions to be burned on their advertisement shown on a channel.”

According to Lall, brands are only looking for inventory buying rather being show sponsoring due to the absence of fresh content.

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GECs

Sun TV posts steady revenue, profit dips amid rising costs

Published

1 week ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CHENNAI: It appears there is still plenty of Sun to go around in the Indian broadcasting landscape, even if a few clouds have drifted across the financial horizon. Sun TV Network Limited, the Chennai-based behemoth that dominates airwaves across seven languages, has tuned into a steady frequency for the quarter ending 31 December 2025. While the numbers show a resilient revenue stream, the company’s latest broadcast reveals a few static-filled spots in its profit margins.

For the quarter in question, Sun TV’s total income climbed by approximately 3.31 per cent, reaching Rs 958.39 crores compared to Rs 927.66 crores in the same period last year. Revenue from operations also saw a healthy bump, rising 4.32 per cent to Rs 827.87 crores.

The real star of the show, however, was domestic subscription revenue, which surged by 8.86 per cent to Rs 472.99 crores. This growth highlights the enduring appetite for Sun’s diverse content, which spans everything from daily soaps in Tamil and Telugu to its burgeoning OTT platform, Sun NXT.

Despite the revenue growth, the picture quality of the profits was slightly blurred by rising costs. Eitda for the quarter stood at Rs 409.79 crores, a dip from the Rs 432.14 crores recorded in the corresponding 2024 quarter.

The profit after tax followed a similar downward trend, settling at Rs 316.44 crores against the previous year’s Rs 347.17 crores. Advertisers also seemed to have switched channels slightly, with advertisement revenues sliding to Rs 291.94 crores from Rs 332.17 crores.

Sun TV isn’t just playing on home turf; its sporting ambitions are becoming increasingly global. The network now owns three major cricket franchises: SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL, SunRisers Eastern Cape in SA20, and SunRisers Leeds Limited in The Hundred (UK).

The foray into British cricket saw the company acquire a 100 per cent stake in Northern Superchargers Limited (now SunRisers Leeds) for approximately £100 million. While these franchises brought in Rs 14.61 crores this quarter, they also incurred corresponding costs of Rs 19.89 crores. Over the nine-month period, however, the cricket business is a major player, contributing Rs 487.64 crores in income.

The company’s bottom line took a minor hit from exceptional items, including a Rs 4.23 crore charge related to India’s new Labour Codes, which consolidated 29 existing labour laws. Additionally, the consolidated results reflect the amalgamation of Kal Radio Limited with Udaya FM, a move that became effective in May 2025 and required a restatement of previous figures.

To keep investors from reaching for the remote, the Board has declared an interim dividend of 50 per cent, that’s Rs 2.50 per equity share. This comes on top of earlier dividends of 100 per cent (Rs 5.00) and 75 per cent (Rs 3.75) declared in August and November 2025, respectively.

With a massive cash reserve and a dominant position in the South Indian market, Sun TV continues to shine, even if the current quarter required a bit of fine-tuning. For now, shareholders can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

GECs

SPNI hires Pradeep M with responsibility for standards and practices in the south

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has hired Pradeep M to handle standards and practices for its southern market, bolstering its compliance bench as content rules tighten across platforms.

Pradeep, who has nearly 13 years in the entertainment media industry, takes on responsibility for content standards in a region that is both linguistically diverse and regulatorily sensitive. His brief spans television, OTT, sports and digital platforms.

He specialises in content review and compliance across shows, commercials, on-air promotions and international feeds, ensuring alignment with broadcast, OTT and advertising codes. He has also handled brand approvals and sponsorship integrations for heavily regulated categories—including online gaming, cryptocurrency, NFTs and lottery brands—offering guidance shaped by fast-evolving rules.

Before Sony, Pradeep worked at Jiostar as assistant manager for content regulation from November 2024 to January 2026. Earlier, he spent nearly seven years at Viacom18 Media, rising from senior executive to assistant manager in content regulation between 2018 and 2024. There he served as a key compliance touchpoint for the network.

His career began on the creative side. Between 2013 and 2018, he worked as executive producer on feature films and television shows, gaining hands-on exposure to production. He also had a stint as a non-fiction show director at Star TV Network in 2017. That mix of creative and regulatory experience gives him a dual lens—how content is made and how it must be managed.

As regulators, platforms and advertisers all tighten the screws, broadcasters are investing more in gatekeepers who can keep creativity within the lines. Sony’s latest hire shows where the industry is heading: in the streaming age, compliance is content’s quiet co-star.

GECs

Colors Gujarati rolls out two new shows from 2nd February

Published

2 weeks ago

February 2, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Colors Gujarati has unveiled two new prime-time shows as part of its push to strengthen culturally rooted storytelling for regional audiences. The channel will premiere the devotional saga Gangasati–Paanbai at 7.30 pm, followed by the romantic family drama Manmelo at 9.30 pm from February 2.

Inspired by Gujarat’s spiritual and literary heritage, Gangasati–Paanbai: Shyam Dhun No Navo Adhyay draws from the timeless bhajans and poetry of saint-poetesses Gangasati and Paanbai, weaving devotion and human values into a contemporary narrative aimed at younger viewers.

In contrast, Manmelo explores love and responsibility across social divides, tracing the lives of three middle-class sisters whose relationships with three affluent brothers reshape their futures. The show delves into ambition, emotional conflict and the realities of married life, offering a layered family drama.

A Colors Gujarati spokesperson said the new launches reflect the channel’s commitment to authentic Gujarati entertainment that blends cultural values with modern storytelling.