GECs

Sony TV rides on ‘brandwagon’

Published

6 years ago

March 2, 2020

MUMBAI: Normally, viewership plays an important role for broadcasters because that is what tells them whether viewers liked them or not. But, viewership may not be the sole determining factor in creating a brand perception among people, if the recent announcement of the ‘most desired brands 2020’ by Trust Research Advisory (TRA) is an indication. The weekly data of BARC India ratings put Sony Entertainment Television (SET) at the fourth or fifth position. However, the channel has entered the TRA’s top 20 India’s most desired brand 2020 at fourth position.

TRA’s ‘most desired brands’ is a measure of the consumer’s perception of their expressed desire about brands they love. It lists those brands which have striven hard to woo their customers with a long-term relationship in their minds and hearts.

The TRA’s report says: “At fourth rank is Sony TV with a small 7 per cent DI (Desire Index) difference from its predecessor. Sony TV, a Hindi GEC, makes a dramatic entry with massive jump of 594 ranks over the previous report. One of the country’s earliest Hindi TV channels, Sony TV has stayed relevant to the audience by evoking with their entertainment offering and a differentiated palette to maintain freshness.”

TRA research director Sachin Bhosle said: "It is the first time that we have included 50 per cent housewives and 50 per cent working women in our women's sample. And we saw a great change in top brands. You have Sony TV entering the top 10, which was never the case earlier.”

Bhosle explained that the TRPs are made of tangible things that are measured. Brand trust or desirability is based on intangible sides of the brand. “It is how it communicates with the audience, the way it creates aspirational value, the way it has a rationale behind it, and what is the aspirational value it is trying to create. That's all what is probably more important."

Sony Entertainment Television Business Planning and Communication head Amit Raisinghani says: “We are pleased to see Sony Entertainment Television placed at fourth position amongst the Top brands in the recently released list of TRA’s most desired brands 2020. Perhaps, the clarity that we have with respect to the purpose of the brand and for whom the brand is meant for has helped us drive relevance, engagement and desire amongst our viewers. Our brand is a manifestation of our people, culture, relentless consumer focus and the premium that we put on creative talent. We hope to continue our relentless pursuit to delight our viewers with compelling content.”

“There is a brand perception in the market that comes from what is its brand value. In case of Sony, when the channel aired KBC and Indian Idol, they did well in the BARC data. Brand perception and viewership is different; one is the brand love and trust and the second is the viewership, i.e. from the rating perspective which is as per the kind of content the channel is playing. There is a lot that Sony as channel does from the audience’s responsibility perspective which also plays a big role in brand perception. Sony as a channel cares and connects itself to social responsibility and that itself plays from the brand perception’s perspective,” opines Havas Media Group CEO India and South East Asia Anita Nayyar.

Carat India executive VP Mayank Bhatnagar says: “Congratulations to Team Sony! It is great to see a TV channel brand scores the fourth position and gets featured in top 50. Viewers’ behaviour, habit and preference have evolved and this has resulted in a major shift in the way people consume content. Consumers today want to consume relatable and relevant content. Sony TV has got the mix right and it has helped them build a strong connect with urban viewers.”

Bhatnagar, however, believes that this will not help the channel in attracting more advertisements as the media planners will continue to evaluate channel performance on the basis of viewership data.

He says: “The Sony TV viewer profile is more skewed towards higher NCCS and urban. If we see the trends for the past few weeks, their viewership and ranking at All India and Urban market level has stayed consistent. The channel has built an unwavering trust through varied content. It's important to be consistent and innovative. This will help them further strengthen the brand and go from strength to strength.”

Joel Multimedia founder-CEO Varghese Thomas comments: “Sony TV is the favourite choice of many advertisers and agencies irrespective of the numbers being delivered by the channel. In a media plan, the channel really helps to build reach in a big way. It's dominance in the male-oriented programmes is also commendable. So, it really does not matter whether the channel has featured in the top ranking or not. Also, beyond numbers, the channel's intend to continuously invest in new shows tells us that they are serious about what has been offered to the television viewers across all genres. This announcement about the channel being featured on the fourth rank of TRA's most desired brands is a great achievement as far as the brand is concerned and will have a chance to attract more business.”

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GECs

Sun TV posts steady revenue, profit dips amid rising costs

Published

5 days 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

1 week 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

1 week 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.