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Tag: Sony Pictures Networks India

  • Sony Group’s media networks biz in India grows in Q2 FY21

    Sony Group’s media networks biz in India grows in Q2 FY21

    Mumbai: Sony Group Corp has released its financial results for Q2 FY2021 that ended on 30 September. The media conglomerate reported that Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) Indian business, which includes video distribution service SonyLIV and its leading broadcasting business, accounted for slightly less than 40 per cent of the sales of media networks in Q2.

    Its pictures segment saw a 40 per cent increase year-on-year in sales, primarily attributed to increase in sales of television productions and media networks. The sales for the pictures segment stood at $612 million. The company also reported higher advertising revenues in India YoY.

    Last month, the company signed a non-binding term sheet to merge a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel), a media company in India. Under the proposed merger, SPE would hold a majority stake in the resulting merged entity.

    Under the term sheet, the two parties are conducting mutual due diligence and Zeel has agreed to negotiate exclusively with SPE for a period of 90 days with the goal of reaching definitive agreements.

    “India has an economic base that is rapidly growing, primarily among the younger generation, and it is the largest linear TV market in the world that is still growing. In addition, the opportunity for digital distribution services is beginning to grow rapidly due to improvements in India’s communication infrastructure,” it said in a statement.

    “As a growth area in the pictures segment, we plan to continue to proactively seek opportunities to expand this business by using the profitability of the TV broadcasting business and our content assets to strengthen our digital distribution service,” it added.

  • NTO 2.0: MSOs asks Trai to reject new RIOs published by broadcasters

    NTO 2.0: MSOs asks Trai to reject new RIOs published by broadcasters

    Mumbai: The Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association has  sent a legal notice to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) asking it to reject the new reference interconnection offers (RIO) published by broadcasters. The Association has also sought Trai’s intervention in asking broadcasters to reduce channel prices as it “will cause irreparable loss to the entire industry”.

    Major broadcasters including Disney Star India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, Sony Pictures Networks India, and TV18 Broadcast Ltd, had published their new RIOs over the weekend starting from 15 October (Dussehra) with the new a-la-carte pay channel and bouquet pricing that adheres to Trai’s new tariff order (NTO) 2.0.

    The broadcasters had hiked the prices of their driver channels and pulled them from all their bouquets as Trai’s NTO 2.0 provisions mandated an MRP cap of Rs 12 for any pay channel to be included in a bouquet. The broadcasters are currently battling the Trai order in the Supreme Court stating that some of its provisions are arbitrary and outside the purview of the regulator. The final hearing is on 30 November.

    In its notice to Trai, the Association has stated that “major broadcasters have issued their RIOs where it can be calculated that majorly subscribed channels by the consumers will be inflated by 100 per cent to 200 per cent.”

    It added, “It is pertinent to mention here that during the situation when over-the-top service providers are trying to make their services more affordable to increase their subscriber base, the service providers of this industry will have to increase their rates substantially which will certainly cause loss of subscriber base of the local cable operators (LCOs) and multi-system operators (MSO).”

    These “excessive prices” will undoubtedly hurt the subscriber base of cable operators whose subscribers come from the rural areas of the country where income levels are comparatively lower. The MSO mentioned that any regulation/direction/order implemented by Trai should lead to the growth and development of service providers and consumers.

    “It is the contention of the Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operators Association that the RIO published by Disney Star India has an illegal clause that requires MSOs to “continue the channels on the old LCNs and they cannot change it”. If new RIO is being asked to be implemented, then all its terms are liable to be renegotiated and the broadcaster cannot favourably keep the clauses of the old RIOs,” it said.

  • SPNI publishes new RIO effective from 1 December

    SPNI publishes new RIO effective from 1 December

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has published its new reference interconnection offer (RIO) issued under telecommunications (broadcasting and cable) services interconnection (addressable systems) regulations, 2017 for all distribution platforms.

    The RIO is subject to the final outcome of the special leave petition filed by the company before the Supreme Court. The new channel rate card will be effective from 1 December.

    According to the rate card, SPNI channels including Hindi GECs Sony Sab, SET, English sports channels Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, and HD channels SET HD, Hindi movie channel Max HD, Sab HD, sports channels Ten 1 HD, Ten 2 HD, Ten 3 HD, Six HD, and Telugu and Tamil sports channel Ten 4 HD have an MRP greater than Rs 12.

    As per the new tariff regime 2.0 order, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has mandated that a channel’s MRP must not exceed Rs 12 for it to be included in any bouquet. The aforementioned channels will not be part of any of the 12 bouquets offered by SPNI.

    The implementation of the new tariff order 2.0 has been halted as broadcasters under the aegis of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) have challenged the Trai order in the Supreme Court. The final hearing on the matter is scheduled for 30 November.

  • Zee-Sony entity to generate close to $2 billion in revenue

    Zee-Sony entity to generate close to $2 billion in revenue

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) on 22 September announced its plans for a merger with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). The merged entity will be the largest media and entertainment player in India with a scale close to $ two billion in revenue.

    In an investor call on Wednesday, Punit Goenka, who has been proposed as the managing director and chief executive officer of the merged entity for a period of five years, stated that “the primary objective will be growth for the company overall. Whether that will be for the digital or sports business that the new board of the merged company will decide,” according to a report by Moneycontrol.

    The merger was unanimously approved by the Zeel Board in a meeting held on Tuesday, where it evaluated the agreement on the financial parameters as well as the strategic value which SPNI brings to the table.

    “Condition for my appointment is the same as what has already been approved by the shareholders. There is no change to that. Any change in remuneration would be subject to board approval,” said Goenka.

    The companies have inked a non-binding term sheet that gives them 90 days to conduct mutual due diligence and come to an agreement that will also require shareholder approval. Post that the scheme will be presented to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Zeel noted that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approval is also part of the process.

    According to Goenka, while CCI norms are different for different sectors, in this scenario, it will be a national-level evaluation and not a state-level evaluation. “The deal has been arrived at with Sony after months of negotiation and preparation. And I think we have a formidable real deal on the table today.”

    Sony has agreed to infuse $1.6 billion cash which will enable the merged entity to accelerate its digital platform and significantly invest in premium content including sports. Zeel had sold the Ten Sports franchise to Sony five years ago which will now become a part of the merged entity.

    On the matter of channel rationalisation, Goenka said that it will happen at a later date as each channel has its own unique viewership as well as programming. “The focus will be on maximising reach and viewership. Overlaps are there in Hindi-speaking markets of GEC and movies. But the content that exists on the platforms is unique and exclusive. So, the objective will be to maximise viewership and garner revenue rather than shutting down channels,” he added.

    The company has yet to reach out to shareholders like Invesco and LIC on the proposed transaction with Sony.

    In an annual general meeting (AGM) held on September 13, the largest shareholder of Zeel, Invesco Developing Markets Fund and OFI Global China Fund IIC, holding 18 per cent stake in the media company, called an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders seeking to remove Punit Goenka, the sitting MD, and two more independent directors from the board of the company. The two independent directors Ashok Kurein and Manish Chokhani had submitted their resignations a day prior. The funds sought the appointment of their own six nominees on the board of Zeel.

    Zeel’s promoters had pared their stake in the company to four per cent to pay off debt worth Rs 13,000 crore.

  • Zeel board approves merger proposal with SPNI

    Zeel board approves merger proposal with SPNI

    Mumbai: There was speculation that the investor action against the promoter family at Zee Entertainment Enterprises would force the board to take some action. And it has: early this morning Zeel announced that the board has approved a merger proposal between Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and India’s largest troubled media entity.

    The merger will result in SPNI holding a majority of 52.93 per cent with Zeel and its shareholders having 47.01 per cent of the new entity which will continue to list on the stock exchanges. The joint company will appoint Punit Goenka as the CEO and managing director, with the promoter family being free to increase its holding from four per cent to 20 per cent over time.  The combined company’s Board of directors would include directors nominated by Sony Group and result in Sony Group having the right to nominate the majority of the Board members. 

    SPNI shareholders have committed to pump in growth capital of $1.575 billion (Rs 11,575.92 crores) into the Indian company to enhance the combined company’s digital platforms across technology and content, ability to bid for broadcasting rights in the fast-growing sports landscape and pursue other growth opportunities.

    A non-binding term sheet giving the two companies 90 days to conduct mutual due diligence and come to a definitive agreement. A final transaction would be subject to completion of customary due diligence, negotiation, and execution of definitive binding agreements, and required corporate, regulatory, and third-party approvals, including Zeel shareholder vote.

    The agreement will combine the two companies’ linear networks, digital assets, production operations, and program libraries. “The combined company would be a publicly listed company in India and be better positioned to lead the consumer transition from traditional pay TV into the digital future,” said SPNI in a statement. 

    The merger was unanimously approved by the Zeel Board in a meeting held on Tuesday, where it evaluated the agreement on the financial parameters as well as the strategic value which SPNI brings to the table.

    “We have unanimously provided an in-principle approval to the proposal and have advised the management to initiate the due diligence process,” said Zeel chairman R. Gopalan said, “Zeel continues to chart a strong growth trajectory and the Board firmly believes that this merger will further benefit Zeel. The value of the merged entity and the immense synergies drawn between both the conglomerates will not only boost business growth but will also enable shareholders to benefit from its future successes. As per legal and regulatory guidelines, at the required stage, the proposal will be presented to the esteemed shareholders of Zeel for their approval.”

  • Sony TV ropes in 12 sponsors for KBC 13

    Sony TV ropes in 12 sponsors for KBC 13

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India has announced the 13th season of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), starting 23 August. Produced by StudioNEXT and hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, the show will air on Sony Entertainment Television, every weekday at 9 p.m. 

    The show has roped in BYJU’s and Cadbury Dairy Milk as ‘co-presenting’ sponsor, Hyundai Motor India, Asian Paints Royale Glitz, Ultratech Cement, and Zydus Wellness (Complan) as ‘co-powered by’ sponsor and CERA, Pharmeasy, IDFC First Bank, LIC of India, Bharat Matrimony as associate sponsors. The Reserve Bank of India has come on board as a ‘special’ partner.

    “For a show like KBC that has followed a certain creative pattern, it was time for us to break the mold and approach it differently. While digital auditions replaced the regular audition process, it didn’t deter the volume of entries. In fact, the ease of digital audition encouraged a lot more aspirants, based in the remotest areas possible to participate. We are happy with the spiritedness of each contestant, and we are hopeful that they fulfil their KBC journey,” said Sony Entertainment Television, head of content and digital business, Ashish Golwalkar. “While we did introduce AR (Augmented Reality) in the previous seasons, this year, the use of AR is far more superior and immersive. From refurbishing the entire set with the play of lights to the graphical elements and LED panels, India is the only country to host the format with the inclusion of such refined technological detailing. With distinct modifications to the game this season, we look forward to rewarding gameplay and promise an enhanced viewing experience to the audience.”

    “It’s the 21st year of my association with Kaun Banega Crorepati and I can never get enough of this show,” said Amitabh Bachchan. “It was probably for the first time, last season, that the studio audience wasn’t a part of the show and we saw a major change in the lifelines as well. I, for one, truly missed them and their energy… it’s infectious! I am happy that the studio audience is back this season with a newfound vigour and so is the lifeline – Audience Poll. It’s an enriching experience for me, each year, to be surrounded by contestants from all walks of life and I look forward to engaging and fulfilling gameplay. These contestants inspire me in every way,” Bachchan said.

    “It’s the 21st year of India’s longest-running show, and it’s heartening to know that KBC remains such a strong family favourite, that it still resonates with viewers across the social spectrum, and from all age groups,” said Siddhartha Basu, consultant for KBC season 13. “Each season, we’ve seen participants coming on to the hot seat from across the country, with varied levels of education and occupations, each with a distinct dream and story. Among a host of reasons that drive them, a key one is the search for ‘sammaan’ or respect. And they win that respect along with what can be life-changing amounts of winnings through a knowledge game. Gyan or knowledge is what provides a level playing field in our society, and viewers can now look forward to an exciting and entertaining new season of the show with a signature offering of gyan, dhan, and sammaan.”

    Fans of KBC may also log on to SonyLIV to participate in the gameshow via KBC Play Along, starting from 23 August, said the channel.

  • Our shows celebrate the common man: Ashish Golwalkar

    Our shows celebrate the common man: Ashish Golwalkar

    Ashish Golwalkar is a veteran media professional who has worked with three of the four big television broadcast companies in a career spanning 22 years and counting. An alumnus of Symbiosis School of Business Management, he wrote/co-wrote many award-winning unscripted format shows for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, Star TV Network and now at Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India.

    At Zee, Golwalkar played a pivotal role in the launch of shows like ‘Dance India Dance’ exhibiting a flair for unscripted formats. At Star India, he worked as senior vice president, programming.

    In 2015, he joined Sony Pictures Network as senior creative director, (content) and headed all fiction and non-fiction format shows, and was also responsible for commissioning scripted and non-scripted shows for the broadcaster. Under his helm, SPN India went on to launch hits such as ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’, ‘Super Dancer’ and successful editions of popular franchises like ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, ‘Indian Idol’, ‘CID’, ‘Crime Patrol’ and more. In 2018, he was elevated as the head of programming for Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and was given the additional charge as head of content for digital business i.e., SonyLIV a year later. Golwalker is also a passionate foodie and amateur chef who is deeply interested in sustainable farming.

    On 15 August, SPN India concluded the 12th season of its singing reality show ‘Indian Idol’ with a grand finale the likes of which have never been seen before on Indian television. The finale aired from noon to midnight featuring as many as 40 acts led by music industry’s most celebrated talent. Indiantelevision.com’s Varun Markande caught up with Sony Pictures Networks India, head content – Sony Entertainment Television and digital business, Ashish Golwalkar to understand the incredible task of putting together a 12-hour episode, discovering talent via digital auditions and the growing appeal of the show at the end of its 12th season.

    Edited excerpts

    On pulling off a 12-hour long grand finale episode.

    I would credit it to the team effort and the positive attitude of everyone. All the teams worked hard churn amid various safety protocols to wrap up this season with great splendour and fanfare. It was the biggest finale ever! For us, it was all about breaking the clutter and creating a disruption. It was a huge task in front of us. One episode is 1.5 hours long, so a 12-hours programming was equal to packaging 5-6 episodes for one finale. You have one day and you need to fill it up with 12 hours of content, there’s editing, music, musicians, there’s practice that happens, costumes and everything else. It’s taxing, but also very exciting.

    12 years and counting. On the continued success of ‘Indian Idol’ franchise.

    ‘Indian Idol’ has been an exceptionally popular show and a hugely successful format for Sony (Pictures Networks India). It has introduced us to several musical talents from across the country over the years and undoubtedly changed the future of many contestants and made them stars overnight.  And one of the biggest reasons for its success is its approach. While the earlier music reality shows were more focused on following traditional norms of singing, ‘Indian Idol’ accepted and adopted the changing times and made it essential for a singer to not only sing well but also perform well as an artist.

    On unearthing the finest singing talent brought in front of Indian audiences.

    Our focus has always been singing and incredible vocal performance. Even though, we conducted digital auditions this year, we saw massive participation. A lot of young contestants came forward and I must say that all of them have immense potential. ‘Indian Idol’ cultivates and promotes outstanding untapped talent among the youth of India by nurturing them and providing a national platform to showcase their talent.

    On building a connection with the audiences.

    At Sony Entertainment Television, we have reserved the weekends for the talent. If you see, most of our shows talk about the common man, their talent and celebrate that – be it ‘Indian Idol’, ‘Super Dancer’, ‘India’s Best Dancer’, or ‘Superstar Singer’ – our kids singing show. Very soon we will launch ‘Shark Tank’ too which will give an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs, and then there’s Kaun Banega Crorepati as well. KBC is not about talent but more about knowledge which the common man can again connect and seek knowledge. So, all the shows that we’ve developed celebrate the common man through their talent or their knowledge and I think that has been our main USP and something that is working for us and we want to continue to be invested in it.

    On successfully conducting digital auditions.

    During the pandemic the world has learnt how to adapt to difficult and different situations. In fact, ‘Indian Idol’ was our first show where we adopted digital auditions. The response was great, however unfortunately we could not digitalise the entire show and had to package it physically. I think we identify this as a hybrid model that was created post which we did ‘Super Dancer 4’ and recently ‘India’s Best Dancer’ and ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ auditions too. There were a lot of learnings from ‘Indian Idol’ which gave us the opportunity to improvise it for other shows. Subsequently, it’s a hybrid model where there will be digital auditions and then people will have to bundle episodes physically in order to witness the talent. We’ve been both elated and lucky that we have identified some incredible talent through ‘Indian Idol’ and other shows. The audiences are already witnessing this on ‘Super Dancer 4’ and I am sure they are enjoying it as well.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India announces key leadership changes

    Sony Pictures Networks India announces key leadership changes

    Mumbai: As Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) gears up to embrace its Vision 3.0, the company on Monday revamped its organisational structure, making several leadership changes. These changes are effective immediately.

    Rohit Gupta has transitioned from his role as chief revenue officer – ad sales and international business and taken on the responsibility of being SPN’s advisor to the management and the board. In this new role, Rohit will be advising senior management on industry trends, developments and work closely with the CEO on various industry issues that could positively impact the company’s strategy and growth.

    Rajesh Kaul, in addition to his existing role as the chief revenue officer – distribution and business head – sports, will take on the charge of international sales and will work in collaboration with the digital team to expand SPN’s brand presence and reach across the world. The current international sales head Neeraj Arora will now be reporting directly to Kaul.

    Sandeep Mehrotra has been appointed head – ad sales, network channels. With an illustrious career, spanning over two and a half decades, Mehrotra has a proven record in driving revenues and delivering efficiencies to clients and businesses. Within SPN, he has moved multiple channels, regions and ranks and has invested his time in curating long-term client relationships with a unifocal thought of creating business solutions. In his new role, Sandeep will directly report to the CEO.

    Danish Khan, business head – Sony Entertainment Television, digital business, and StudioNext will take additional charge of network channels licensing. This alignment will enable an end-to-end view of opportunities at play between channels and digital and thereby enable us in taking decisions, best suited for the network’s growth.

    Tushar Shah, business head, English, factual entertainment & Sony Aath, takes on an additional role of the newly created position of chief marketing officer (CMO) for SPN. His expanded role will include taking the corporate brand to the consumer and furthering its reach besides managing his existing channel portfolio.

    Aditya Mehta, in addition to his current role of corporate strategy and business development, will spearhead the formation of data analytics CoE to strengthen SPN’s approach to being a data-driven organisation. He would also be responsible for business monetisation which will leverage the power of data and act as a bridge between digital & linear revenue opportunities.

    Nitin Nadkarni, chief finance officer (CFO) will take additional charge of the broadcast operations and network engineering (BONE) department. BONE head Kingshuk Bhattacharya will now report to Nadkarni.

    Speaking on the latest announcement, SPN, managing director & CEO, N.P. Singh said, “SPN has embarked on Vision 3.0 to create a future-ready organisation based on a culture powered by corporate values and a management structure backed by an operating model that accelerates growth. All leadership changes announced today are reflective of that evolutionary intent.

    SPN, CHRO, Manu Wadhwa, added, “The organisation remodeling is a result of our constant focus to strengthen our talent and leadership capabilities and will ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic media and entertainment industry.”

  • SonyLIV on-boards Dr G Dhananjayan as head of Tamil content

    KOLKATA: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) on Friday appointed Dr G Dhananjayan as head – Tamil Content, Digital Business for its streaming service, SonyLIV.

    In his new role, Dhananjayan will spearhead the launch of Tamil content initiatives to drive the platform’s expansion plans for users who prefer consuming content in the language in India & international markets. Prior to this, he was associated with the Blue Ocean Film and Television Academy.  

    With a career spanning over 25 years in management, Dr.G Dhananjayan has held key leadership positions in film production houses, marketing and distribution divisions across Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi languages.

    His previous stints span across leading conglomerates such as Kansai-Nerolac Paints, Saregama-HMV, Airtel, Vodafone, Moser Baer Entertainment, and Disney-UTV. Dr. Dhananjayan has multiple accolades to his credit, including a Ph.D. doctorate in the film business and the title of a National Award-winning author, twice for his exemplary work on Cinema.  

    “I am elated to join the leadership team at SonyLIV. Being a part of the premium platform’s journey in bringing breakthrough stories that engage, entertain and stand out from the clutter in the Tamil market is exciting,” Dhananjayan commented.

    At SonyLIV, he will be responsible for curating and strengthening the Tamil content catalogue. Dhananjayan’s rich experience makes him ideal to oversee the growth plans of SonyLIV in the Tamil region, said the company.

    “We are pleased to have Dr. G. Dhananjayan on board to oversee SonyLIV’s Tamil market expansion. With his versatile experience in the domain and an impressive passion to drive authentic and localized stories, we aim to strengthen our portfolio in the Tamil market,” SET and Digital Business content head Ashish Golwalkar said.

  • SPN’s Go-Beyond podcast endeavours to inspire and entertain

    New Delhi: After becoming one of the first major broadcast companies to enter the audio streaming business, Sony Pictures Networks India continues to bring insightful stories of experienced minds from across different walks of life through its podcast service.

    Launched in SPN’s 25th anniversary month, the ‘Go-Beyond’ podcast has featured eleven eminent guests from different walks of life so far. These guests included renowned names such as chef Amrita Raichand, actor and comedian Ash Chandler, former Australian Cricketer Jason Gillespie, environmentalist Bittu Sahgal, author Samit Basu, and historian Vikram Sampath, amongst others.

    The guest line-up ahead is just as exciting and varied, said the company on Thursday. The podcast features well-known personalities with remarkable journeys and stories across sports, literature, business, entertainment, history, and the culinary arts. According to the company, the Go-Beyond podcast is not just a value add to SPN’s diverse content bouquet, but also enables the brand to foray into a segment that is surging in India with more people opting for digital audio streaming.

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), managing director and chief executive officer, NP Singh said, “As the digital audio craze continues to explode, ‘The Go-Beyond Podcast’ creates deeper engagement with audiences by bringing to the fore real-life stories and insights of achievers who braved small or big limitations to resonate with success. SPN has a pioneering history of creating compelling content across formats and platforms, and the Go-Beyond Podcast is our endeavour to both inspire and entertain a global listener base.”