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Tag: Rajesh Kaul

  • Sony bets big on 2018 FIFA World Cup

    Sony bets big on 2018 FIFA World Cup

    MUMBAI: With the 2018 FIFA World Cup set to kick off on June 14, Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) is gearing up for the company’s most-anticipated event of the year. Banking on the rising popularity of football in India, the formidable FIFA brand and a viral ad campaign, the sports cluster of Sony Pictures is aiming to double up its viewership this year.

    While the football viewership in India on the rise, FIFA events tend to enjoy a further spike in the television rating as they draw both fans and fringe-viewers to the screens. In a bid to heighten the excitement around this edition of the World Cup, Sony has opted for a fan-centric campaign instead of a player-centric one.

    “When we looked at data, we saw that there is a football audience and there is a FIFA audience, wherein the FIFA audience is far greater than football audience. People follow FIFA since we don’t have our own country’s participation it and it was a challenge to drive communication around it,” says Sony Pictures Networks senior VP of marketing and OAP of sports Kedar Teny.

    Titled ‘Meri Doosri Country’, the campaign aims to encourage Indian fans to cheer for an ‘adopted’ country. The campaign idea took shape over a cup of coffee between Sony and agency Culture Machine. Sony was clear about what it wanted – a campaign that goes beyond clichés of football to make it relevant for the fans.

    While Sony was part of the creative process, it did not interfere with the creative freedom of the agency.

    The campaign was shot at various locations in Mumbai, Kolkata and Goa and an enormous cast of over 800+ actors. Interestingly, the last (closing) shot itself featured over 300 people.

    The campaign has adopted a 360-degree approach and is spread across TV, digital, print, and radio and will be telecasted in English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam.

    The world feed in English will be on SONY TEN 2 SD and HD channels, the Hindi feed will be aired on SONY TEN 3 SD and HD channels while Bengali and Malayalam feed will be available on SONY ESPN SD channel.

    The company is aggressively advertising and marketing the tournament on television and various digital platforms. Soon after launching the first campaign, Sony has launched a series of short format content on television and digital.

    Sony’s partnership with FIFA has been a successful one, claims the network. Some of their previous collaborations with the world football’s governing body include the 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA U-17 WC India, FIFA Confederates Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    “The association with FIFA has been good for business for Sony Pictures Networks. Our viewership numbers have exceeded our expectations in all events and we are extremely proud of our association,” highlights Sony Pictures Sports Networks president of sales and distribution Rajesh Kaul.

    Sony is confident of having a successful tournament. Given the instant success of its promotional campaign, one cannot fault the management for being in a buoyant mood ahead of the showpiece event. Now, all they can hope for is an exciting tournament that will keep the fans glued to their television sets.

  • SPN launches first campaign for FIFA WC 2018 Russia

    SPN launches first campaign for FIFA WC 2018 Russia

    MUMBAI: Despite losing several big ticket sporting properties to rivals in India, Sony Pictures Network (SPN) is gung-ho as it gears up to showcase the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. With just about a month left for the action, it has unveiled a new campaign titled ‘Meri Doosri Country’. The campaign was launched in the presence of India’s football icon and former national football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia.

    Culture Machine is the brain behind it with a creative team of five members. The production house involved in the making was Radhika Produces Films. The campaign is directed by Jigar Fernandes and produced by Radhika Sawhney.

    Telecast will be in four languages: English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam. The world feed in English will be on Sony TEN 2 SD & HD channels, the Hindi feed will be aired on Sony TEN 3 SD & HD channels while Bengali and Malayalam feed will be available on Sony ESPN SD channel. Adding to this, a fantastic line-up of renowned international football panellists will hone in on their knowledge and insights to enhance the viewing experience.

    SPN India president, sports and distribution Rajesh Kaul said, “Sony Pictures Network has been associated with FIFA, one of the most prestigious sporting bodies in the world, since the last world cup in 2014. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia is definitely one the biggest and most exciting sporting events this year, and we are extremely proud to bring it to the football fans across the Indian subcontinent. Our campaign #MeriDoosriCountry, captures the ethos of how Indian football fans root for their favourite country as if it’s their own. With multiple language feeds and unique programming initiatives, we are committed to giving our audience a truly holistic 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia experience.”

    As seen from the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, football continues to grow by leaps and bounds in India and is the second most viewed sport in the country after cricket. While football viewership is already high in India, FIFA-led events tend to enjoy an increased viewership due to their enormous popularity. The FIFA World Cup is one of the few sporting events that draws in both fans and fringe-viewers to root for their favourite countries, which temporarily become their ‘Doosri Country’ (second country).

    SPN senior VP marketing and OAP Kedar Teny told Indiantelevision.com, “If you look at the data, four markets that obviously consume football are English speaking markets from the North East, South and Goa. Hindi is only to bring in new viewership from Hindi speaking markets (HSM). The sports genre isn’t strong in the HSM, but the campaign is nudging you to be a part of the party.”

    “We have been holding the rights for all the premium football tournaments and known as the home of football. The campaign will be on all 31 channels of SPN. The feel and look of the stadium will be done in VR to enhance the viewers’ experience,” Kaul added.

    The #MeriDoosriCountry campaign film has been inspired by countless Indian fans who exhibit their undying passion by adopting their favourite football team once every four years during the World Cup. The film showcases snapshots of fans cheering and flaunting their support for their ‘Doosri Country’ by wearing the team jerseys, waving their team flags and even painting their faces with their team colours.

    The master brand campaign highlights the passion and excitement with which Indian fans support their favourite teams at this mega-event. The brand campaign also explains what really happens to the football fans in India when the World Cup kicks in and how we pledge loyalty of another country. The film was shot across the country, especially in football-crazy states like Goa, Kerala and West Bengal.

    The campaign will entail a 360-degree approach, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. It will also be spread across TV, digital, print, and radio.

    Indian Football team former captain Bhaichung Bhutia said, “The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia is one the most awaited tournaments for all of us and I am excited to show my support for the #MeriDoosriCountry campaign. The film gives Indian audience a sense of belonging to one of the most significant sporting events in the world. While I am confident that we will see our football team in the World Cup one day, Meri Doosri country will be Argentina this year.”

    Also Read :

    Sony to be ahead of the curve in regional penetration: Kedar Teny

    SonyLIV aims to provide comprehensive CWG coverage

  • Broadcasters express displeasure over BCCI’s match rates: Report

    Broadcasters express displeasure over BCCI’s match rates: Report

    MUMBAI: With the BCCI rights up for grabs after being postponed to 3 April 2018, Star India and Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) are expected to slug it out to win the bid. Both broadcasters have, however, written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) making their displeasure known in regards to the upcoming India rights as reported by CricketNext. The main reason, report says, is that the BCCI wants the media rights winner to pay the same amount for matches involving two visiting teams playing on Indian soil.

    Star India, in its letter, which CricketNext claims to have possession of, has written, “The average viewership on Indian matches is significantly higher than on non-India matches (as surveyed during the Asia Cup in 2016). Even an India match with a non-Test playing nation generates more viewership than two major Test nations playing each other. The bidder is expected to attribute the same per match value to any such match without any realistic possibility of recovering such value. Paying the same per-match value for India matches and non-India matches is not commercially viable. We request the BCCI and the CoA to reconsider their position.”

    SPSN has also expressed similar sentiments in its letter, says the report. “These last-minute changes on the bid documentation and the online bid is making it difficult for us to prepare for the bid on 3rd April. As you know, there are a lot of calculations and modelling that goes into a bid preparation and these last minute changes create so much uncertainty. One issue that is particularly of concern is regarding tri-series in India organised by the BCCI. The clarification says all matches will be valued the same. This means an India-Afghanistan-Bangladesh or an India-Bangladesh-Zimbabwe will be valued equally with an India-Australia-South Africa. This quite frankly is illogical. Advertisers and even the viewing public do not value these matches equally and for the BCCI to consider all of them as having the same value does injustice to bidders. We would earnest request BCCI to reconsider,” SPSN’s letter to the BCCI reportedly said.

    Star India paid Rs 3851 crore for the India rights to broadcast the matches from July 2012 to March 2018 leaving behind the closest bid of Rs 3700 crore by Sony Pictures Networks (SPN). SPN also lost out to Star India for the Indian Premier League after televising the cash-rich league from 2008 till 2017. SPN, however, has bolstered its cricket pipeline after bagging the broadcasting rights from Cricket Australian and the English Cricket Board in the subcontinent, taking its tally to seven Test-playing nations.

    “The whole idea was to strengthen our overall leadership position,” Rajesh Kaul, the president of SPN’s Sports and Distribution Business, had said last month. “ECB was a very important and integral part of the strategy. While Australian cricket happens during the winter here, cricket in England is during the summer. There is a very encouraging trend of other sports also getting traction in this part of the world but cricket is still the largest. And to have that dominant leadership position in cricket was very, very critical for us.”

    Also read:

    BCCI sweetens the pot for bidders of India rights

    BCCI invites bids for e-auction of India rights

    BCCI invites brands to acquire third-party rights for IPL

  • Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) acquires exclusive telecast rights of Tata Open Maharashtra 2018

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) acquires exclusive telecast rights of Tata Open Maharashtra 2018

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has acquired the exclusive telecast rights for Tata Open Maharashtra 2018, part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour, taking place in in Pune from January 1 to January 6, 2018. The deal will cover television and digital broadcast in eight countries; India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.

    The Tata Open Maharashtra 2018 will feature top names including world number six and fourteen, Marin Cilic and Kevin Anderson respectively and Spanish player Roberto Agut amongst others. The tournament will also feature Indian entrants Yuki Bhambri, Arjun Kadhe and Ramkumar Ramanathan. The tournament is to be played at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.

    Comments:

    Mr. Rajesh Kaul, President, Sports and Distribution Business, Sony Pictures Networks India

    “We are proud to be the official broadcast partners of India’s premier ATP event, which is also the biggest tennis tournament in South Asia. The Tata Open Maharashtra will feature top ranked International and Indian players on our network. This is a valued addition to our line-up of major tennis events in January starting with Hopman Cup, Brisbane International 2018, Sydney International 2018 and Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2018 leading up to the first grand slam of the calendar year, Australian Open 2018, making our sports network the one stop TV destination for tennis enthusiasts.”

    Mr. Uday Sodhi, Executive Vice President and Head, Digital Business, Sony Pictures Network India

    “We are delighted to stream South Asia’s biggest tennis tournament, Tata Open Maharashtra 2018, part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. Consumers can stream live or catch up on the highlights of the matches exclusively on SonyLIV. This further strengthens our commitment to provide diversified sports offerings to our viewers.”

    Watch the LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the tournament beginning at 5:00 P.M. on January 1, 2018 on SONY TEN 2 and SONY TEN 2 HD channels. Viewers on the go can also live stream the matches on the SonyLIV App and website.

    Schedule for the next week:

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  • SPSN to broadcast ‘Rajasthan Rumble’- Vijender Singh’s double-title defense against Ghana’s Ernest Amuzu

    SPSN to broadcast ‘Rajasthan Rumble’- Vijender Singh’s double-title defense against Ghana’s Ernest Amuzu

    MUMBAI: Undefeated Indian knockout king, Vijender Singh is set to defend his WBO Oriental and Asia Pacific Super middleweight titles against African Champion Ernest Amuzu on 23 December, 2017 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to this sporting event ‘Rajasthan Rumble’- WBO Oriental and Asia Pacific Super Middleweight Championship from IOS Boxing Promotions that will be telecast at 7.00 PM on Saturday,23 December, live and exclusive on SONY SIX (English) & SONY TEN 3 (Hindi).

    Earlier this year in August, SPSN broadcasted ‘Battleground Asia’ where Vijender defeated China’s Zulpikar Maimaitiali in a double title to win the WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental Super Middleweight belts. Vijender Singh 32, has enjoyed a great run in his fledgling professional career, winning all his nine fights of which seven were knockouts. He has played 40 rounds in his nine fights. In his last three title fights held in India, Vijender has won all three bouts including a knockout. Amuzu, the 34-year-old boxer from Ghana, has 23 wins under his belt including 21 knockouts out of 25 fights. The fight against Vijender will be Amuzu’s first fight in India.

    ‘Rajasthan Rumble’ will also feature Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Amandeep Singh who will take on Manoj Kumar from Punjab while two-time Asian Boxing champion, Kuldeep Singh will face Amrinder Singh from Haryana. ‘Rajasthan Rumble’ will also see participation from other young talented Boxers like Pardeep Kharera, Kuldeep Dhanda, Dharmendra Grewal and Asad Asif Khan.

    SPN India president, sports and distribution business Rajesh Kaul said, “We are delighted to broadcast ‘Rajasthan Rumble’ which will be Vijender’s second fight on our network this year. It has always been our aim to provide our viewers with the best of marquee events across sports and build a multi-sport viewing culture. Seeing Vijender represent India has augmented awareness about boxing and our network is delighted to be the broadcast partner for promoting the sport of boxing in the country.”

    Vijender Singh, WBO Asia Pacific and WBO oriental super middleweight champion, “This is my overall fourth fight that will be broadcast on Sony Pictures Sports Network and I am thankful to the network to help widen the reach of our fights across various platforms, which helps me get support from all over the country. Viewers can watch my 10th pro-fight against Ernest Amuzu and the rest of the match card on Sony Pictures Sports Network as well as livestream it on the SonyLIV App and website.”

    IOS Boxing Promotions promoter Neerav Tomar, “We are happy and thankful to Sony Pictures Sports Network for their extended support in our fight nights. In the last three fights we have seen an increase in the viewership and in the upcoming last fight of this year; we are looking forward to see the same momentum for Rajasthan Rumble.”

  • FIFA U-17 WC caught 47 million viewers for SPN

    FIFA U-17 WC caught 47 million viewers for SPN

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Network’s (SPN) recent broadcast of the FIFA U-17 World Cup seems to have made a mark. 47 million viewers tuned in across India for the 22-day long event, as per data from Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for 2+ All India urban+rural, pay sports channels.

    The Hindi and Bengali feeds were instrumental in adding 40 percent of the overall viewership. Regions like West Bengal, Northeast India and Kerala contributed a large chunk of viewers. 45 per cent of the audience was also female.

    Games played by team India saw an average 2.6 million impressions per game. The full house finals between England and Spain in Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium on 28 October generated an average of 2.2 million impressions. SPN claims that its coverage of the World Cup got better ratings than other international football events like FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, English Premier League 2016-17, La Liga 2016-2017 etc.

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    SPN India president, sports and distribution business, Rajesh Kaul said, “It was a great privilege for India as a nation to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup and an incredible opportunity for us at Sony Pictures Networks India to broadcast the tournament and bring football to the forefront in India. Our efforts towards leveraging and enhancing the popularity of the FIFA U-17 World Cup have yielded excellent results and we hope that this will be a pivotal point for the rise of football in India.”

  • NBA: Sony TEN3, HD and Sony SIX, HD to air games with respective Hindi, English commentaries

    NBA: Sony TEN3, HD and Sony SIX, HD to air games with respective Hindi, English commentaries

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and the NBA today announced that beginning the 2017-18 NBA season, NBA games will be telecast live with Hindi commentary every weekend on Sony TEN 3 and Sony TEN 3 HD. A package of close to 100 NBA games including the regular season and playoffs.The games will continue to be simulcast with English commentary on Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD.

    The move aims to engage a wider set of fans and enthusiasts with Hindi as their primary language. The Hindi commentary will be presented by an expert panel of commentators which will include celebrity NBA fans. The commentators have undergone rigorous training to fine-tune their abilities in presenting the games, which included personalised training by long-time Indiana Pacers’ play-by-play announcer Chris Denari.

    The league has also associated with popular basketball influencers such as Bollywood actor and VJ Rannvijay Singha, popular culture stand-up comedian Gursimran Khamba to be guest-commentators on a regular basis.

    SPN president sports and distribution business Rajesh Kaul said, “We are committed in channeling our efforts towards expanding NBA’s fan base in the country and strengthening our reach. We have seen a consistent increase in viewership over the years for NBA and to keep up this momentum we are continuing our initiative of the Hindi language commentary. A special panel of expert commentators has been engaged to deliver expert analysis in Hindi for each play.”

    NBA India MD Yannick Colaco said, “Along with our partners, Sony Pictures Networks, we are excited to offer Hindi in-game commentary through the 2017-18 season. As a part of our commitment to popularize the game of basketball in India, we will continue to offer more localised programming to engage with a wider audience.

    The network will also continue to broadcast daily and weekly NBA highlight shows and integrate daily content from NBA TV, including team previews and recap shows. The daily 30-minute highlight programs will be broadcast in primetime every day of the season. The weekly highlight show – ‘NBA WEEKLY’, hosted by a local anchor, will recap all the happenings around the game during the past week. The NBA and sports cluster of SPN will also continue the customised, local live NBA wraparound show ‘NBA AROUND THE HOOP’ every weekend throughout the season to bring viewers closer to the game. The program will be hosted by a panel of basketball experts that will provide analysis and insight on all the latest game news.

    The action on Sony SIX & Sony SIX HD will start on 18 October and exclusive Hindi in-game commentary on Sony TEN 3 & Sony TEN 3 HD, along with the Live wraparound show Around the Hoop, every weekend, starting 21 and 22 October 2017.

  • FIFA U-17 WC: SPN India to telecast in three languages – English, Hindi, Bengali

    FIFA U-17 WC: SPN India to telecast in three languages – English, Hindi, Bengali

    MUMBAI: With two days to go for one of the biggest international tournaments to be hosted on its home soil, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has announced its programming initiatives for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India designed to enhance the viewing experience.

    The sports cluster of the network is all set to telecast the 22-day tournament in three language feeds – English, Hindi and Bengali on SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 3 & SONY ESPN channels.

    SPN has also given footy fans another reason to look forward to the tournament with the return of its flagship studio show, Football Extraaa. The live studio show will be hosted by Seema Jaswal, TV presenter and known sports enthusiast, and will feature expert international panellists, Luis García, former Spanish professional footballer (ex-Barcelona and ex-Liverpool player), Stuart Pearce, former English national U-21 team manager and David Moyes, former Everton and Manchester United coach. The experts will share the screen space with Indian stalwarts like Padma Shri Bhaichung Bhutia, former captain – Indian football team, Sunil Chettri, current captain to the Indian football team and Renedy Singh, former Indian footballer.

    Football Extraaa will be aired during the course of the tournament with a pre–show at 4:15 pm followed by a mid-show and post-show. The studio show will serve not only football enthusiasts with match analyses and insights, statistics and interesting trivia but also appeal to bench viewers alike. The show was first telecast during one of the biggest international football tournaments of 2016, UEFA EURO 2016.

    SPN India president sports and distribution business Rajesh Kaul said, “The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India, one of the most anticipated events of the year, is set to transform India’s sports landscape. As official broadcasters of the tournament, we are committed to reaching out to a wider audience and enhancing the viewing experience.”

    “We are bringing back, Football Extraaa, our flagship show for the tournament which presents some of the biggest names in international and Indian football on a single platform. With in-depth analyses and renowned football experts’ comments, we promise to provide an unparalleled sports viewing experience that appeals to our audience, both football fans and bench viewers, in the Indian sub-continent,” he added.

    With the sports cluster providing local language feeds and bringing back Football Extraaa, sports enthusiasts across India can expect an enhanced viewing experience to watch the future stars of football in action and cheer for their favorites. The coveted tournament will have 24 teams playing across six venues in India and fans will witness some of the best talent from around the world in the under-17 category.

    The tournament will take place between 6 October and 28 October, 2017 in English on SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY ESPN & SONY ESPN HD channels. For Hindi and Bengali language feeds, tune in to SONY TEN 3 & SONY TEN 3 HD channels.

  • Day after IPL euphoria, Sony launches FIFA U-17’s co-created song as countdown begins

    Day after IPL euphoria, Sony launches FIFA U-17’s co-created song as countdown begins

    MUMBAI: It could not have been timed better. In the backdrop of Star winning the IPL media rights, SPN, the official broadcaster of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, has launched the official song — Kar Ke Dikhla De Goal.

    Sony Pictures and FIFA U-17 Local Organising Committee (LOC) have launched the song, marking the 30 day countdown to the tournament.

    With exactly a month to go for the tournament, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) formally launched Kar Ke Dikhla De Goal, the Official Song of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.

    Written by lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya and composed by Pritam, the song features a host of well-known music artistes that include Sunidhi Chauhan, Neeti Mohan, Babul Supriyo, Shaan, Papon, Mika along with a rap performance by actor Abhishek Bachchan.

    The composition showcases the vibrancy and uniqueness of India while resonating with a global audience simultaneously. The music video for the song celebrates diversity, showcases how the nation is waiting in anticipation for FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, and features stars like Bhaichung Bhutia, Ngangom Bala Devi, Shaan, Papon and the legend Sachin Tendulkar amongst others.

    The music video of the song will be broadcast on SPN’s on-air and digital platforms across genres.

    Sony Pictures Networks India president – distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul said: “We are ecstatic to be the first broadcasters in history to collaborate with FIFA to co-create an Official Song for a FIFA tournament. From the very beginning of this association, we have worked closely with the Local Organising Committee/FIFA to ensure that FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 is a monumental success. Our efforts include the creation of the Official Song, an inspirational composition that will boost the nation’s spirit of sportsmanship.”

    AIFF president and LOC chairman Praful Patel said: “We are doing everything in our capacity to make this the biggest sporting event in India and I am sure the Official Song will help increase and broaden the appeal of the first ever FIFA tournament in India.”

    Minister of state for heavy industries and public enterprises and LOC vice-chairman Babul Supriyo said: “Football is synonymous with euphoria and we shall add on to that virtue with a euphoric Official Song beautifully created by the super hit duo of Pritam and Amitabh Bhattacharya. I can safely say that we’ll have everyone dancing to its tune and cheering the first ever football World Cup in our country with renewed vigour”.

    The FIFA U-17 World Cup, the first FIFA tournament to be held in India, will be played across six venues in October 2017. The tournament will begin on 6 October with the final scheduled to take place on 28 October at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), the official broadcasters of the tournament, will telecast it live and exclusively on their sports channels and live stream it on their digital platform, SonyLiv.

  • Hat-trick: Sony Pictures Distribution among best Indian media companies

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India Pvt. Ltd. (SPND), the distribution arm and wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has been ranked as one of the best company to work for in the media industry by the Great Place to Work® Institute, for 2017. Sony Pictures Networks Distribution has been recognized as INDIA’s GREAT MID – SIZE WORKPLACES 2017 and ranked at the 5th position, amongst the TOP 50 companies. SPND is the only media company to be featured on this list for the third time in a row. This award was presented by the global research organisation – Great Place To Work® Institute, India in association with Mint.

    The Great Place to Work® Institute is a firm that assists organisations to identify, create and sustain great workplaces through the development of high-trust cultures. In its 14th edition, India’s Best Companies to Work For study attracted participation from 219 organisations, ranging across industries, including a 7% participation from the media industry alone. This study was done with the most rigorous, credible and comprehensive methodologies to identify organizations in achievement of their goals.

    Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India Pvt. Ltd. undertook the Trust Index Survey & Culture Audit People Practices assessment – a two lens model that measure employees’ perception and assesses management practices. Once again SPND surpassed the average industry percentage of positive responses measured through five parameters – credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie and raised the bar of their people practices over last year

    According to the Institute’s research, a Great Place to Work® is one where the company’s framework is employee-centric and inculcates a sense of trust, pride and camaraderie amongst the employees. It is an indisputable fact today that creating a great workplace is an integral part of an organisation’s strategy. SPND believes in empowering its employees to achieve dynamic results which comes with the commitment towards the social, economic and intellectual growth of its diverse employees in an evolving ecosystem.

    Sony Pictures Networks India CEO NP Singh: “Every organization is shaped by its employees and for us to be recognised as a Great Place To Work is as best as it can get. This award is of immense significance to us as it resonates with our goal to Go-Beyond the ordinary and script the future that we want to belong to. Our values are co-shared by our employees and it reflects in our performance as well. I am extremely humbled by our employees’ commitment to our goals and determination to excel in every sphere.”

    SPNI president – distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul: “Being among the great places to work in India for a third time in a row is both, an honour and a responsibility. Our endeavour has always been to make Sony Pictures Networks Distribution an organization which nurtures employees as family and expresses its care for them not only via friendly policies but also by fulfilling their career expectations. We are privileged to receive this award and will continue to go-beyond in our endeavour to excel our own standards.”

    SPNI director – HR Hema Malhotra: “Great minds make SPND a Great Place to Work where our employees are the biggest asset of our organization, coupled with effective leadership, compelling employer brand and a high-performance culture. Our initiatives around learning and development, wellbeing, diversity and Inclusion are progressive and note-worthy, which are some of the tools to engage, motivate and retain employees. All this coupled with employee friendly practices create agility through innovation and help the organisation Go-beyond the ordinary.”