Tag: Sony Pictures Networks India

  • Rebel Foods grills opens 200 Wendy’s in India-Let the burger fest begin

    Rebel Foods grills opens 200 Wendy’s in India-Let the burger fest begin

    MUMBAI: If burgers had a Hall of Fame, Rebel Foods and Wendy’s would waltz in with a victory burger and a side of fries. The world’s largest internet restaurant brand and India’s master franchise holder for Wendy’s just flipped its way to a sizzling milestone-opening the 200 Wendy’s restaurant in India at Elan Miracle Mall, Gurugram. And let’s just say, they’re making more noise than a burger sizzling on a hot grill.

    Wendy’s has achieved this feat in just 40 months, marking one of the fastest expansions in India’s quick-service restaurant (QSR) history. With a presence in over 50 cities, including 15 dine-in locations, Wendy’s is proving that India’s appetite for quality burgers is insatiable.

    To mark the occasion, Rebel Foods has flipped the script on celebrations, rolling out a month-long burger bonanza starting 15 March. First up, an all-women superbike squad, rocking Wendy’s signature red pigtails, will be zooming through key cities, delivering orders with more flair than a perfectly tossed burger patty—turning heads faster than a sizzling grill at lunchtime.

    Wendy

    Flagship Wendy’s outlets in Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad will transform into party hubs, complete with live DJs, unlimited Rs 200 menus, and burger-fueled festivities. Even delivery customers won’t be left out—special milestone-branded packaging will ensure the celebration reaches every doorstep.

    Wendy’s isn’t just expanding in size-it’s also pushing flavour boundaries. The launch of two bold new menu ranges—the savoury, umami-packed Korean Range and India’s first-ever Chimichurri Range—proves that fast food can be innovative.

    “Our partnership with Wendy’s continues to thrive, and with localized innovative new menu additions like the Korean and Chimichurri Ranges, we’re changing the way India enjoys hamburgers,” said Rebel Foods co-founder & CEO – India and MENA, Ankush Grover.

    The Wendy’s Company SVP, MD, APMEA Chris Conway shared his excitement, stating, “We are building a high-performing, differentiated QSR brand in India. Growing to 200 restaurants demonstrates that Wendy’s is winning in the market by delivering what customers want: Fresh, famous food and exceptional customer experiences. We deeply appreciate our strong partnership with Rebel Foods, whose growth vision has been key to our rapid expansion. As Wendy’s continues to expand, we look forward to bringing our high-quality food and hospitality to even more communities across India.”

    Since entering India in 2020, Wendy’s has been serving up menu hits like the Spicy Aloo Crunch Hamburger, the Flavor Fresh Range (featuring Firebolt Tandoori, Lord Cheesynator, and Nachoburg), and India’s crispiest fries. Now, with Rebel Foods leveraging its expertise in cloud kitchens, dine-in formats, and digital-first food experiences, Wendy’s is poised for even greater heights.

    The 200 store isn’t just another QSR opening—it’s proof that India’s burger boom is here to stay. And with Rebel Foods at the helm, the Wendy’s expansion is just getting started.

  • Former SPNI head honcho Neeraj Vyas joins Vinod Bhanushali as his studio’s CEO

    Former SPNI head honcho Neeraj Vyas joins Vinod Bhanushali as his studio’s CEO

    MUMBAI: When Neeraj Vyas put in his papers at Sony Pictures Networks India mid-last  year, speculation was running high where the veteran broadcaster who built Sony Sab into a successful brand would be headed.  Well, we know now – to Bhanushali Studios Ltd  (BSL) as its CEO. The announcement was made a short while ago by Vinod himself on linkedin.

    Said Vinod: “ With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Neeraj brings visionary leadership and a passion for innovation. We look forward to harnessing his expertise, creativity, and strategic vision to drive growth, amplify creativity, and propel the studio to new heights. Here’s to a bright and inspiring future ahead.”

    Vinod, has in recent times, been displaying lots of chutzpah, after leaving T-Series around four years ago. Amongst his most recent partnerships was his taking equity in Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal’s True Story Films along with former Ksera Sera boss Parag Sanghvi. BSL has been the production house behind  titles such as Janhit Mein Jaari, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Main Atal Hoon and Bhaiyya Ji.

  • Sony MAX Premieres Saale Aashiq – A Paradigm Shift in the Movie Industry

    Sony MAX Premieres Saale Aashiq – A Paradigm Shift in the Movie Industry

    Building on the success of their supernatural thriller “Adbhut” released last September, Sony MAX is once again breaking ground with the direct-to-TV release of “Saale Aashiq”. This movie offering signals our commitment to delight linear TV viewers with compelling and exclusive content.

    “Saale Aashiq” will Premiere on Sony MAX on February 1, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Set against the backdrop of a small town in Madhya Pradesh, the film narrates the captivating love story of Shatru (Tahir Raj Bhasin) and Gudia (Mithila Palkar) as they navigate challenges to stay together. The star-studded cast also includes veteran actors Chunky Pandey and Darshan Jariwala.

    With its unmatched reach and viewership potential, Sony MAX’s direct-to-TV release initiative is a smart, consumer-first response to the shifting viewing preferences. It seeks to reignite the tradition of families gathering around the Television at a set time to enjoy a shared experience.

    Makarand Palekar, EVP, Head – Distribution Sales, Marketing and Operations, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)

    “Direct-to-TV releases leverage the broad reach of linear television to maximise audience engagement while catering to evolving content consumption trends. This strategic approach strengthens distribution, ensuring wider accessibility and driving viewership growth. Sony Pictures Networks India remains committed to innovative distribution initiatives that enhance content reach and impact.”

    Sony MAX’s direct-to-TV initiatives boldly bridge the gap between viewing preferences, delivering high-impact content directly to TV and capturing young audiences. The strong audience desire for fresh content has made watching new releases at home rival the appeal of a theatrical experience.

  • Parinda Singh appointed marketing head Hindi Movie Cluster & Sony Marathi at SPNI

    Parinda Singh appointed marketing head Hindi Movie Cluster & Sony Marathi at SPNI

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced the appointment of Parinda Singh as head of marketing for its Hindi movie cluster and Sony Marathi.

    Bringing over 23 years of experience in brand building, consumer insights, and marketing strategy, Singh has worked with India’s top brands, media houses, and Fortune 500 companies. her expertise spans content marketing, digital media, fintech, and over-the-top (OTT ) platforms. She has a proven track record of developing growth strategies, scaling brands, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

    Prior to this appointment, Singh served as a marketing consultant, advising leading organisations across sectors such as sports, media, and digital platforms. she has previously held senior marketing roles at Zee Entertainment, Star TV network, NDTV Imagine, and Bennett Coleman & Co. Singh has also worked ad agencies on the servicing side such as Lowe Lintas, FCB Ulka and Mudra Communications. She holds  a bachelor’s  degree in commerce and an MBA in marketing from NMIMS, Mumba.

    In her new role, Singh will spearhead marketing strategies, enhance brand engagement, and drive growth for the Hindi movie cluster and Sony Marathi, with a focus on delivering impactful campaigns that resonate with audiences.

  • Simran Singh advances to director of sales – ecommerce  & retail at Spotify

    Simran Singh advances to director of sales – ecommerce & retail at Spotify

    MUMBAI:  Simran Singh, a seasoned sales professional with extensive experience in digital marketing and branded content, has announced her new role as director of sales – ecommerce &  retail at Spotify. She was earlier director of sales at the audio streaming service.

    Previously, Singh served as the regional head of ad sales at Sony Pictures Networks India, where she significantly contributed to revenue generation and business development over a span of two years and eight months. She also held the position of vertical lead for global business solutions at TikTok India, managing key strategies that drove growth in a competitive market.

    With a master’s degree in marketing management from the Army Institute of Management, Singh’s career has been marked by her expertise in developing innovative media formats and achieving revenue targets. She has a proven track record of establishing new business ventures, including her leadership role at Optimal Media Solutions and her tenure at Viacom18 Media, where she oversaw revenue generation in south and east India.

    In her new role at Spotify, Singh aims to leverage her experience to enhance the company’s ecommerce and retail strategies. Her appointment signifies Spotify’s commitment to strengthening its market presence in India and expanding its digital sales capabilities.

  • Sony Sports Network unveils Australian Open 2025 coverage across India

    Sony Sports Network unveils Australian Open 2025 coverage across India

    MUMBAI: As the sun rises over Melbourne Park, the echoes of rackets and roars of the crowd signal the dawn of Grand Slam week—a tennis fan’s ultimate dream.

    Sony Sports Network is all set to serve an ace with exclusive live coverage of the Australian Open 2025, running from 12-26 January.

    From the thrill of a five-set marathon to the elegance of a perfectly executed backhand, fans can experience it all in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, bringing the action closer to every corner of India.

    With marquee sponsors like Rolex, Amul, Kia Motors, and Apple rallying alongside, Sony promises a broadcast that’s as electrifying as a match point on Rod Laver Arena.

    The tournament will kick off on Sunday, 12 January, a strategic adjustment aimed at enhancing the experience for both players and fans by reducing late-night match strain. Viewers can expect thrilling performances from top players, including defending champion Jannik Sinner, 10-time winner Novak Djokovic, and women’s World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

    In addition to Sinner and Djokovic, players like Alexander Zverev (World No.2), Carlos Alcaraz (World No.3), Taylor Fritz (World No.4), and Daniil Medvedev (World No.4) will compete for glory. The women’s draw features fierce competition with Iga Swiatek (World No.2) vying for the title. Adding to the excitement is the return of Nick Kyrgios, aiming to make a triumphant comeback.

    Indian players will also feature prominently, with Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, and Sriram Balaji participating. Rithvik Bollipalli, ranked 72 in doubles, will make his Grand Slam debut, building on his successful 2024 season, which included his first ATP Tour title.

    The exclusive broadcast will feature EXTRAAA SERVE, a panel of experts including Sania Mirza, Somdev Devvarman, and Purav Raja, who will deliver insights and analysis.

    Mirza expressed excitement about the competition, stating, “I have some of my fondest memories at the Australian Open and I look forward to being back in the expert’s chair for Sony Sports Network’s EXTRAAA SERVE. I am also excited to watch the 2025 season, as Rohan Bopanna and Sumit Nagal will represent India. The competition is about to get more interesting as this season will bring lots of opportunities, whether it’s for Jannik Sinner, who looks to defend his title or its Novak Djokovic, who is looking to restore his past glory. Adding to the Melbourne heat will be the contest between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.”

    Devvarman praised the network’s efforts, saying, “Over the years, Sony Sports Network has become the home for the Australian Open and it gives me immense pleasure to return to the commentary box and the studio chair for yet another exciting season. The 2025 edition of the tournament will set the tone for the upcoming Australian Open tournaments and other Grand Slams especially when it comes to the next legend in tennis.”

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), chief revenue officer – distribution and international business and head – sports business, Rajesh Kaul commented, “The Australian Open has established itself as the preferred Grand Slam among Indian tennis fans, differentiated by its entertainment quotient and the presence of top-seeded players. It is the most watched Grand Slam on linear television over the last three years. We are committed to continuing this momentum and delivering premier tennis action to our Indian audiences. The response from advertisers has been exceptionally positive, with prestigious brands such as Rolex, Kia Motors, Apple and more joining us for this remarkable tournament.”

    Sony Sports Network’s #WHEREGREATNESSBEGINS campaign celebrates the tournament as a platform for unearthing future tennis legends.

    Fans can catch the live action on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), and Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (English). Matches will also be live-streamed on Sony LIV, starting 5:30 am IST daily.

  • Enterr10 Television appoints Harshad Wadadekar as director, syndication & partnerships

    Enterr10 Television appoints Harshad Wadadekar as director, syndication & partnerships

    MUMBAI: Content licensing and syndication runs through his veins and it is a skillset he has developed over the past 12 years of his career in media and entertainment. Harshad Wadadekar  is continuing in that space, the only difference being that he will be doing it at the Manish Singhal promoted Enterr10 Television – the company which runs the No 1 Indian Hindi TV channel – as director – syndication & partnerships.

    Wadadekar’s career encompasses significant roles in leading media organisations. He cut his teeth in the content licensing and syndication business at the Vivek Lath-Jimmy George owned GoQuest Media (June 2013-August 2022) where he rose to become general manager. He followed that with short stints at Sony Pictures Networks (August 2022-Septemebr 2023) and Shemaroo Entertianment (September 2023-January 2025. In the beginning of his career, Harshad  worked a few months each at various companies like Indian Magic Eye, Reliance Entertainment, B4U Television either in production or assisting the syndication teams for Hong Kong Film Art.

    Wadadekar holds a bachelor’s degree  in mass media &  production management and a master’s degree in business administration and a PGP in  media and communication. 

    “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as director – syndication & partnerships at Enterr10 Television,” Wadadekar announced on Linkedin.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India  hires southern market expert Rajaraman Sundaram as head content strategy

    Sony Pictures Networks India hires southern market expert Rajaraman Sundaram as head content strategy

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India or Culver Max Entertainment has hired veteran television executive Rajaraman Sundaram as head content strategy. One wonders what one should read into this hire by CEO Gaurav Banerjee.

    Rajaraman has had deep exposure to the southern markets having worked at Vijay Television for almost 11 years in two phases January 2011-March 2006 and April 2009-January 2015. On both occasions, he was in the finance department.

    He was  given charge  of Asianet between December 2017 and September 2021 first as executive vice-president strategy (south) and then as business head. He was given the responsibility of Colors (Tamil) between September 2021 and July 2023.

    Rajaraman was then lured back to Disney Star India to work in the country manager India’s office between August 2023 and November 2024.  In between, the qualified chartered accountant worked with NDTV Imagine for two years (May 2007-April 2009) as vice-president finance. Then he had a stint at Hathway Cable & Datacom as chief operating officer -video business between April 2015 and December 2017.

    A question that needs answering is: in his new role, has Rajaraman been hired  to take Sony into the southern regional language market? Or is he being brought in to help Gaurav Banerjee  build the fictional slate of Sony Entertainment Television?  

    Gaurav Banerjee  and his core management team know it. And he is not telling. As yet. 

  • JioStar, Zee and Sony release new channel and bouquet pricing

    JioStar, Zee and Sony release new channel and bouquet pricing

    MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year when broadcasters disclose how much the distribution platform operators will have to pay for the channels they pipe into Indian TV homes. The three major networks JioStar, Zee and Sony Pictures Networks India have rolled out their reference interconnect orders  (Rios) regarding the broadcast tariffs that cable ops, DTH ops and IPTV players have to cough up for 2025. At first glance, it appears s if broadcasters have been reasonable in their rate increases by hiking channel prices between five and 15 per cent on the higher side. And quite a few channel prices have been maintained as well. The rates become effective 1 February 2025.

    Let’s begin with JioStar.Its 134 channel offering after the merger of Star and Jio definitely looks impressive. As do the number of packs its distribution team has come up with: 83 in all packs, which includes 85 standard definition channels, 44 HD channels, five FTA channels. The bouquets also include 19 news channels from Network 18, infotainment channels from both National Geographic and AETN18, general entertainment channels in various languages from both Star and Colors, kids channels (including Disney), music channels (MTV and Maa Music), regional language channels and of course above all sports channels in various languages.

    On an a la carte basis, JioStar’s channels in various languages in standard definition have been priced at between Rs 25 (for Maa TV and Colors Kannada respectively)  and 10 paise (all its news channels).

    Its HD channels are priced between Rs 25 a(Maa HD, Star Plus HD, Vijay HD, Colors Kannada and Asianet) and 10 paise(VH1 HD, MTV Beats HD and MTV HD). .

    On the bundle side, its cheapest pack, apart from the free to air channels, is at     Rs 17 for the Disney Kids SD pack with the most expensive one being the Star Premium Pack Marathi Lite Hindi HD at Rs 240.

    The  Star Value Pack  SD Hindi pack,  priced at Rs 110 has 30 channels including both Star Plus and Colors, a chunk of news channels, movie channels, infotainment channels, kids channels – but no Disney – the sports channels Star Sports 1 Hindi, Sports 18, and Star Sports 3. The Star Premium Pack Lite Hindi HD which is priced at Rs 210 has 43 channels, including seven sports channels, Colors HD but no Star Plus.

    The broadcaster has built clever packs which are a mix of regional language channels only and it has also mixed regional languages to create special packs and regional language channels with its  Hindi channels to create even more niche packs to meet the requirement of nomadic domestic Indians.

    Network Status Action
     JioStar if you already have an agreement  click here  
      if you are new to Jiostar and want one click here
    Zee TV To get the Zee updated RIO form  click here
    Sony Pictures Networks India to get the a la carte pricing  click here
      to get the Happy India bouquet pricing  click here
    Source: networks and Indiantelevision.com 

    Let’s now take a look at Zee. Zee has kept the number of packs limited to 30 and it’s a la carte rates are also pretty much simpler. It’s mainline general entertainment channels in every language apart from Malayalam have been kept at a price of Rs 19 (Zee TV Hindi, Zee TV Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Sarthak, Zee Telugu and Zee Kannada). Zee Keralam, however, has been priced at Rs 10 on a la carte basis. Its movie channels have been kept between a band of Rs 19 (Zee Cinema) and 10 paise (Zee Classic). It has priced most of its HD channels at Rs 19 with the lowest one priced at Rs 3 (& prive HD).

    Zee TV has bundled its regional language channel packs at a higher price than its Hindi ones. For instance, the Zee all-in-one pack Hindi HD has a sticker price of Rs 89 while its all-in-one Telugu and Tamil packs are priced at Rs 120.It has also thrown in penetration incentives if the distribution platform operators place the channels in the preferred LCN number that are agreed upon between Zee and the DPO.

    Now on to Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). SPNI has increased the a la carte pricing for some of its  channels, while keeping them steady for others. For example, Sony Wah  which was priced at Rs 0.1, is now priced at Rs 1. Similarly, Sony Max 2 has increased to Rs 2 from Rs 1, and Sony Sports Ten 4 is now priced at Rs 19, up from Rs 17. Additionally, the pricing for bouquets has been revised which has gone up  between four per cent and 12 per cent. The Happy India Smart – Hindi pack is now priced at Rs 54 (previously Rs 48), while the Happy India Smart – Marathi pack is now priced at Rs 56 (previously Rs 51). The Happy Smart Bangla too has risen from 51 to Rs 56 but with the channel Max 1 being added to it.

    Hopefully, these marginal price revisions don’t start a battle between the  cable TV and DTH fraternity and broadcasters like they did the last time in 2023 when broadcasters had to resort to switch offs because cable TV operators resisted. The DPOs must remember the price of almost everything has gone up: the rupee is at Rs 85, potatoes are at Rs 60 and even petrol is at a high.

    Already, consumers are turning away from cable TV and DTH as is evident in the drop in the number of subscribers in the past six months. For the sake of the entire cable and satellite TV industry, the entire trade must work together and not battle against each other. Otherwise, the number of cord cutters and cord-nevers will only increase. And along with it, the tribe of streamers. 

  • Understanding the Netflix-Sony Pictures-WWE tangle

    Understanding the Netflix-Sony Pictures-WWE tangle

    MUMBAI: If this does come true, it would be good news for wrestling fans. There have been rumours in the market that it’s quite possible that the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programmes might shift to Netflix in India come next year. Timelines are not clear but sports rights watchers  are guesstimating that  this could happen sometime beginning next fiscal, that is from April 2025.

    Netflix had in January 2024 agreed to pay $500 million per year ($5 billion for 10 years with an option to renew for another 10 or to exit after five years) to TKO Holdings the parent of WWE, for the rights to air the show Raw in the US, the UK, Canada and Latin America with other territories being  added in the future. In every other market, Netflix has the rights to  air Raw and the other two weekly shows, SmackDown and NXT, plus all of its major showcases, including WrestleMania and SummerSlam.

    This includes India. However, the India rights have been with Ten Sports which has been under the Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) umbrella for nearly 10 years  and the two together have had the rights for around two decades. WWE shows have been the top rated programmes on Ten Sports channels and have been their staple programming ever since.

    In the,  US the current deal gets activated in 2025 and Netflix will air the first episode of Raw on n 6 January 2025. The Intuit Dome in California will be the location for the hosting of the debut episode. The rights vested with Comcast’s USA Network until October 2024, but the WWE gave it a short extension till the end of the year. It is one of USA Network’s top shows, drawing an audience of 17.5 million over the course of a year. Then, 82 per cent of Americans say they’ve heard of WWE. As of June 2024, WWE had 90 million fans in the US, according to market research firm SSRS/Luker.  To top this all, Raw which made its debut in 1993 has a back catalogue of 1,600 plus episodes. 

    Ditto is its popularity in India, though the number of fans may be in a much higher zone. Estimates  are that the WWE  and its fighters have  a large fanbase – the largest fan base outside of the US  – in India it has ballooned to in excess of 100 million.   As they say in India everything happens at scale, ditto with TV shows too. In fact, it is highly popular amongst young kids and the youth, Around five years ago, the WWE had estimated that its shows get about 335 million unique viewers annually in India with almost 40 per cent  of them being women. This is what encourage SPNI’s acquisition team to acquire its rights from TKO Holdings from 2020 to 2025.  It turned out to be a good decision as the WWE programming block is one of the top earning properties on Ten Sports and draws loyal audiences. And of course advertisers. 

    With the rights deal with SPNI  coming to an end in India in 2025, and Netflix acquiring the programming rights for the  world for the next 10 years, it’s quite logical to assume that SPNI may find it difficult to re-negotiate its renewal of rights with TKO Holdings for the Indian market. For Netflix is sure to use the WWE as a subscription driver and one major way it can do that is by keeping the matches exclusive on its streaming service and keep out SPNI from showing them on television.  

    “WWE is sports entertainment. So it’s as close to our core as you can get in terms of sports storytelling,” Netflix’s  Ted Sarandos had said during one of the investors calls. “We are in the sports business, but we’re in the part that we bring the most value to, which is the drama of sport.”

    In all probability, Netflix will also develop shoulder programming which could be documentaries or dramatised series  around professional wrestling. 

    The coming months will tell us which way the cookie will tumble – Sony Pictures Networks  or Netflix in India. Until then we can get back to our TV screens, if you are a WWE hardcore fan, and watch the coming matches on satellite and cable TV.