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Tag: Sony Pictures Networks

  • Sony Pictures Networks India to broadcast UFC 200

    Sony Pictures Networks India to broadcast UFC 200

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), will broadcast the biggest and the most anticipated MMA event of the year,UFC 200. The high octane event will be telecast LIVE and exclusive, on 10th July 2016, at 0730 hrs on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD. The biggest fight card of the year, UFC 200 will also be available for live streaming on SonyLIV. The repeat of the entire fight event will be telecast on the same day at 1600hrs across all channels.

    UFC 200 marks the return of The Beast, Brock Lesnar, to the UFC Octagon who will be facing off Mark Hunt in the headlining fight. UFC 200 will also feature some of the biggest superstars of MMA, all on one fight card that promises to entice and excite the growing fan-base of UFC in India. Also featuring on the fight card will be Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Miesha Tate, defending her title against Amanda Nunes and veteran featherweight fighter, Jose Aldofacing Frankie Edgar for the Interim Featherweight Title.

    The popularity of UFC 200 in India will see its peak, as it is being promoted by the biggest superstar of Bollywood, Salman Khan. The actor plays the role of an MMA fighter in his upcoming movie, Sultan, and fights UFC’s Welterweight fighter, Tyron Woodley in the film. The actor also features in the promo for UFC 200 on the SPN channels, where he introduces Brock Lesnar’s return to the UFC Octagon.

    With UFC’s consistent growth in viewership in the market, SPN is taking a step forward in growing the sport’s popularity through the MMA Fan Club called The Octagon. The club serves passionate MMA enthusiasts with unique community experiences like the special breakfast screening of UFC 200. SONY ESPN is also conducting an on-air & social media contest for viewers who can win an exclusive opportunity to be a part of The Octagon experience.

    The UFC 200 fight card live screening will take place simultaneously in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai on July 10th, 2016, at 0730 Hrs at the Hard Rock Café. The screening is also open to walk in consumers who would like to be a part of the community experience.

    UFC 200 is the culmination of UFC’s biggest week of the year, International Fight Week. The week will also see

    • UFC Fight Night 90 on 8th July at 7.30am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

    • The Ultimate Fighter finale on 9th July at 7.30am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

    • UFC 200 on 10th July. At 7.30am Live & Exclusive on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, SONY ESPN and SONY ESPN HD.

  • Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India announced no 1 company by Great Place To Work Institute

    Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India announced no 1 company by Great Place To Work Institute

    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 the no. 1 company in the media industry by the Great Place To Work Institute, for 2016. SPND claims to be the only media company to feature yet again amongst the top 50 list for India’s Best Companies To Work For in 2016 having won this laurel for two consecutive years.

    The award was presented by the global research media company in association with The Economic Times. Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India Pvt. Ltd. undertook the Trust Index Survey which surpassed the average industry percentage of positive responses measured through five parameters credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

    Sony Pictures Networks India CEO NP Singh said, “We are honoured to win this laurel yet again and I congratulate this outstanding team for their continuous efforts and contribution towards the organisation’s success. A company is a reflection of its people and it is a wonderful feeling when employees reciprocate the sentiment and vision that we have envisaged for the company.”

    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 13 edition, India’s Best Companies to Work For study attracted participation from 791 companies, ranging across 20 industries, including participation from 20 companies 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. Over 1,50,000 employees were surveyed, making it the largest survey of workplace culture in corporate India.

    “Getting recognized as the No.1 Company in the media industry and receiving this honour for the second consecutive year is an incredible feeling and a moment of pride for us. It is a testament to our culture that fosters a great working environment. Our employees are our most valued asset and the reason we can accomplish our mission of exceeding expectations on every level, for our audiences, our partners, and the community. This recognition reflects our commitment and efforts to create fulfilling programs and career experiences for our employees,” added Sony Pictures Networks India president, distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul.

    According to the Institute’s research, a great place to work is one where you trust the people you work for, take pride in what you do and enjoy the company of people you work with. At the best workplaces in India, 14% employees want to stay for a longer duration with the organization while 19% employees look forward to coming to work, as compared to others. It is an indisputable fact today that creating a great workplace is an integral part of an organization’s strategy.

    Sony Pictures Networks Distribution director HR Hema Malhotra, “It has been our constant endeavor to attract, nurture and retain talent to work in a cohesive and collaborative environment. We are proud of the SPND work culture and the holistic approach we take towards our employee’s overall well-being. We foster an environment where employees feel motivated, valued, and committed to driving great results. Our employees will continue to be our most important growth drivers. It is indeed encouraging to receive this recognition yet again and we will strive to continue being an employer of choice.”

    At SPND the work environment is all inclusive which is built through day-to-day relationships that employees experience and not just a checklist of programs and benefits. The company fosters an environment that supports and rewards excellence, honesty and fair dealing where employees are treated with mutual respect. Performance at SPND is recognized and rewarded, where employees are felicitated by the CEO and President of the company at an annual event.

  • Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India announced no 1 company by Great Place To Work Institute

    Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India announced no 1 company by Great Place To Work Institute

    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 the no. 1 company in the media industry by the Great Place To Work Institute, for 2016. SPND claims to be the only media company to feature yet again amongst the top 50 list for India’s Best Companies To Work For in 2016 having won this laurel for two consecutive years.

    The award was presented by the global research media company in association with The Economic Times. Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India Pvt. Ltd. undertook the Trust Index Survey which surpassed the average industry percentage of positive responses measured through five parameters credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

    Sony Pictures Networks India CEO NP Singh said, “We are honoured to win this laurel yet again and I congratulate this outstanding team for their continuous efforts and contribution towards the organisation’s success. A company is a reflection of its people and it is a wonderful feeling when employees reciprocate the sentiment and vision that we have envisaged for the company.”

    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 13 edition, India’s Best Companies to Work For study attracted participation from 791 companies, ranging across 20 industries, including participation from 20 companies 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. Over 1,50,000 employees were surveyed, making it the largest survey of workplace culture in corporate India.

    “Getting recognized as the No.1 Company in the media industry and receiving this honour for the second consecutive year is an incredible feeling and a moment of pride for us. It is a testament to our culture that fosters a great working environment. Our employees are our most valued asset and the reason we can accomplish our mission of exceeding expectations on every level, for our audiences, our partners, and the community. This recognition reflects our commitment and efforts to create fulfilling programs and career experiences for our employees,” added Sony Pictures Networks India president, distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul.

    According to the Institute’s research, a great place to work is one where you trust the people you work for, take pride in what you do and enjoy the company of people you work with. At the best workplaces in India, 14% employees want to stay for a longer duration with the organization while 19% employees look forward to coming to work, as compared to others. It is an indisputable fact today that creating a great workplace is an integral part of an organization’s strategy.

    Sony Pictures Networks Distribution director HR Hema Malhotra, “It has been our constant endeavor to attract, nurture and retain talent to work in a cohesive and collaborative environment. We are proud of the SPND work culture and the holistic approach we take towards our employee’s overall well-being. We foster an environment where employees feel motivated, valued, and committed to driving great results. Our employees will continue to be our most important growth drivers. It is indeed encouraging to receive this recognition yet again and we will strive to continue being an employer of choice.”

    At SPND the work environment is all inclusive which is built through day-to-day relationships that employees experience and not just a checklist of programs and benefits. The company fosters an environment that supports and rewards excellence, honesty and fair dealing where employees are treated with mutual respect. Performance at SPND is recognized and rewarded, where employees are felicitated by the CEO and President of the company at an annual event.

  • Hollywood’s wildchild Movies Now 2 HD to launch by July end

    Hollywood’s wildchild Movies Now 2 HD to launch by July end

    MUMBAI: Home to blockbuster movie titles, happy sitcoms, popular romcoms, cult classics- the Times Network’s English Entertainment Cluster has managed to find its space in the Indian cable TV and DTH sun despite it being a late entrant. And it has been continuously ramping up its offering targeted at discerning English content guzzling audiences.

    Now it has added another channel to that bouquet by announcing the launch of a new age Hollywood channel for Young India titled Movies Now 2 (MN2)

    With a library of 300 plus titles, the channel is slated to launch on 24 June 2016 at 9 pm. While the HD feed will roll out by end-July 2016, MN2 has signed a long term first output deal for the satellite rights with MGM which includes six to seven premieres a year. Apart for this, it has also partnered with Warner, SPN, NBCUniversal, etc for various hit titles.

    Positioning itself as the cinema of tomorrow, MN2 will have stylised content, right from a new identity and on-air look to an interesting library. It is also being promoted as a destination for some of the most high profile and appropriate titles across genres that are universally celebrated by youth. The Times Network has labelled MN2 as Hollywood’s wild brainchild channel with a ‘rebellious’ personality.

    Times Network English Entertainment Cluster senior VP and head Vivek Srivastava says he is excited about the launch as the channel has been honed for this free-spirited, opinionated, rebellious and “engaged youth looking for adventure, edgy and new-age stylised cinema. It is an all new Hollywood English channel experience for young India which is Sexy, Stylish and Smart.”

    But why choose the name Movies Now2? “Movies Now is an iconic name and we think it deserves an extension. Lot of research has been put into place before deciding this name. We want to go mass and make this colloquial,” explains Srivastava.

    Banking extensively on bold content, the channel plans to air it in programming blocks or on-air properties with quirky titles like Moviegasm which has been given a slot of 9 pm Monday to Friday; the Swag Nights segment broadcasts every Monday to Friday at 11 pm; BAE Love starts from June 2 every Saturday at 7 pm, while the weekend spoof festival 2wisted will telecast at 9 pm. Thug Life will showcase movies like Hangover III, Kick Ass 2, Bangkok Dangerous, the Oceans series, R.I.P.D, 21, etc on weekends at 11 pm.

    So have these segments been drawn up to give advertisers a reason to latch on to them? Clearing the doubt, Srivastava points out that hey have been created only to drive mass viewership. “The festivals are created for viewership and not sponsorship. But if this gets us business, there is no harm in that,” he jests. “Crisp segmentation, visible positioning backed with quality content makes a channel successful and that’s what we have done with MN2.”

    The channel will also premier a bevy of movies like Sin City 2, Hot Pursuit, 3 Days to Kill and Poltergeist to name a few. With no repeated content from the other two channels of the network, MN2 will have a mix of old and new content which will be routinely updated.

    Beaming through Intelsat, the new channel is part of the group’s English bouquet and carriage have been struck across all major DTH and cable TV platforms.

    With an already overcrowded movie space and with two movie channels already in the group, how will this channel have an edge over the rest? Srivastava believes the youth positioning and edgy indie and mainline films will do the trick. He asserts: “On the one hand we have roughly 400 Hindi/regional channels, but on the other hand we have a mere 40 English Entertainment channels. I think there is enormous space for multiple channels to be launched than what we have today.”

    The Moves Now 2 logo has been designed by Famous Innovations while the channel IDs and the promos were created in-house.

    Focussing on the beyond metro cities too, MN2 will extensively be promoted through traditional out of home (OOH) advertising. The OOH campaigns will begin from 28 July while marketing on television and print will be initiated with the launch of the channel. “We have always been aggressive with marketing our properties and we will continue to do so with MN2. Apart from the diverse promotions across our network, we have a robust TV and print advertising plan ready for action. We will significantly focus on digital platforms as well, voiced Srivastava.

    With approximately Rs 250-300 crore business in the English entertainment space, the group is just a few licences away from launching another English news and an entertainment channel.

    So watch this space for further action from the Times Network.

  • Hollywood’s wildchild Movies Now 2 HD to launch by July end

    Hollywood’s wildchild Movies Now 2 HD to launch by July end

    MUMBAI: Home to blockbuster movie titles, happy sitcoms, popular romcoms, cult classics- the Times Network’s English Entertainment Cluster has managed to find its space in the Indian cable TV and DTH sun despite it being a late entrant. And it has been continuously ramping up its offering targeted at discerning English content guzzling audiences.

    Now it has added another channel to that bouquet by announcing the launch of a new age Hollywood channel for Young India titled Movies Now 2 (MN2)

    With a library of 300 plus titles, the channel is slated to launch on 24 June 2016 at 9 pm. While the HD feed will roll out by end-July 2016, MN2 has signed a long term first output deal for the satellite rights with MGM which includes six to seven premieres a year. Apart for this, it has also partnered with Warner, SPN, NBCUniversal, etc for various hit titles.

    Positioning itself as the cinema of tomorrow, MN2 will have stylised content, right from a new identity and on-air look to an interesting library. It is also being promoted as a destination for some of the most high profile and appropriate titles across genres that are universally celebrated by youth. The Times Network has labelled MN2 as Hollywood’s wild brainchild channel with a ‘rebellious’ personality.

    Times Network English Entertainment Cluster senior VP and head Vivek Srivastava says he is excited about the launch as the channel has been honed for this free-spirited, opinionated, rebellious and “engaged youth looking for adventure, edgy and new-age stylised cinema. It is an all new Hollywood English channel experience for young India which is Sexy, Stylish and Smart.”

    But why choose the name Movies Now2? “Movies Now is an iconic name and we think it deserves an extension. Lot of research has been put into place before deciding this name. We want to go mass and make this colloquial,” explains Srivastava.

    Banking extensively on bold content, the channel plans to air it in programming blocks or on-air properties with quirky titles like Moviegasm which has been given a slot of 9 pm Monday to Friday; the Swag Nights segment broadcasts every Monday to Friday at 11 pm; BAE Love starts from June 2 every Saturday at 7 pm, while the weekend spoof festival 2wisted will telecast at 9 pm. Thug Life will showcase movies like Hangover III, Kick Ass 2, Bangkok Dangerous, the Oceans series, R.I.P.D, 21, etc on weekends at 11 pm.

    So have these segments been drawn up to give advertisers a reason to latch on to them? Clearing the doubt, Srivastava points out that hey have been created only to drive mass viewership. “The festivals are created for viewership and not sponsorship. But if this gets us business, there is no harm in that,” he jests. “Crisp segmentation, visible positioning backed with quality content makes a channel successful and that’s what we have done with MN2.”

    The channel will also premier a bevy of movies like Sin City 2, Hot Pursuit, 3 Days to Kill and Poltergeist to name a few. With no repeated content from the other two channels of the network, MN2 will have a mix of old and new content which will be routinely updated.

    Beaming through Intelsat, the new channel is part of the group’s English bouquet and carriage have been struck across all major DTH and cable TV platforms.

    With an already overcrowded movie space and with two movie channels already in the group, how will this channel have an edge over the rest? Srivastava believes the youth positioning and edgy indie and mainline films will do the trick. He asserts: “On the one hand we have roughly 400 Hindi/regional channels, but on the other hand we have a mere 40 English Entertainment channels. I think there is enormous space for multiple channels to be launched than what we have today.”

    The Moves Now 2 logo has been designed by Famous Innovations while the channel IDs and the promos were created in-house.

    Focussing on the beyond metro cities too, MN2 will extensively be promoted through traditional out of home (OOH) advertising. The OOH campaigns will begin from 28 July while marketing on television and print will be initiated with the launch of the channel. “We have always been aggressive with marketing our properties and we will continue to do so with MN2. Apart from the diverse promotions across our network, we have a robust TV and print advertising plan ready for action. We will significantly focus on digital platforms as well, voiced Srivastava.

    With approximately Rs 250-300 crore business in the English entertainment space, the group is just a few licences away from launching another English news and an entertainment channel.

    So watch this space for further action from the Times Network.

  • Sony Liv adds Hollywood blockbusters for subscribers

    Sony Liv adds Hollywood blockbusters for subscribers

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) VOD service Sony LIV has announced the launch of a cinematic extravaganza for all movie fans with its Hollywood library. Besides a wide range of TV shows, sports properties, Bollywood flicks, songs and original web content, cinema aficionados can now enjoy instant access to internationally celebrated movies anytime and anywhere.

    Sony Liv is going the extra mile to enhance the entertainment experiences for its viewers wherein the biggest upcoming Hollywood blockbusters will premiere on the platform before their television airing.

    Sony Liv EVP and head for digital business Uday Sodhi said, “At Sony Liv, we are committed to continuously enhance the entertainment experience of our viewers. After receiving an overwhelming response for our Bollywood library, we are now extending our catalogue to allow English movie buffs to catch up with their Hollywood dose of entertainment- right from award-winning favourites to unseen gems. Our endeavour is to make an entire bouquet of eclectic yet engaging cinematic properties accessible at ease since Sony Liv is a complete digital entertainment destination that consumers can turn to for riveting content of every kind.”  

    The library gives viewers a chance to access a wide selection of hugely popular American movies on their own preferred digital devices. The platform claims to offer comprehensive and attractive for its discerning digital audience through its Hollywood library.

    Liv already offers an extensive Bollywood library with over 1,000 films from across genres. It already has a portfolio of critically acclaimed films like The Pursuit of Happyness, Django Unchained, The Da Vinci Code, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Angels and Demons and the Spiderman series, etc.

    The platform also rolled out a web-series for the online platform called #LoveBytes. It has also rolled out a digital film entitled Chhoti Khushito support a social media campaign, #LIVThisDiwali.

  • Sony Liv adds Hollywood blockbusters for subscribers

    Sony Liv adds Hollywood blockbusters for subscribers

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) VOD service Sony LIV has announced the launch of a cinematic extravaganza for all movie fans with its Hollywood library. Besides a wide range of TV shows, sports properties, Bollywood flicks, songs and original web content, cinema aficionados can now enjoy instant access to internationally celebrated movies anytime and anywhere.

    Sony Liv is going the extra mile to enhance the entertainment experiences for its viewers wherein the biggest upcoming Hollywood blockbusters will premiere on the platform before their television airing.

    Sony Liv EVP and head for digital business Uday Sodhi said, “At Sony Liv, we are committed to continuously enhance the entertainment experience of our viewers. After receiving an overwhelming response for our Bollywood library, we are now extending our catalogue to allow English movie buffs to catch up with their Hollywood dose of entertainment- right from award-winning favourites to unseen gems. Our endeavour is to make an entire bouquet of eclectic yet engaging cinematic properties accessible at ease since Sony Liv is a complete digital entertainment destination that consumers can turn to for riveting content of every kind.”  

    The library gives viewers a chance to access a wide selection of hugely popular American movies on their own preferred digital devices. The platform claims to offer comprehensive and attractive for its discerning digital audience through its Hollywood library.

    Liv already offers an extensive Bollywood library with over 1,000 films from across genres. It already has a portfolio of critically acclaimed films like The Pursuit of Happyness, Django Unchained, The Da Vinci Code, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Angels and Demons and the Spiderman series, etc.

    The platform also rolled out a web-series for the online platform called #LoveBytes. It has also rolled out a digital film entitled Chhoti Khushito support a social media campaign, #LIVThisDiwali.

  • VIVO IPL broadcast reaches a record-breaking 218 million viewers in its first week!

    VIVO IPL broadcast reaches a record-breaking 218 million viewers in its first week!

    MUMBAI: Sony MAX, Sony Six & Sony ESPN (part of Sony Pictures Networks India SPN), the official broadcasters of the VIVO IPL have surpassed all expectations in the opening week of the T20 cricket tournament.

    . VIVO IPL 2016 opened with a cumulative reach of 218 million viewers in its first week.

    . VIVO IPL 2016’s opening 7 games rated 21033 avg TVT at an all India (Urban+Rural) level. 

    . The opening game between Mumbai Indians & Rising Pune Supergiants rated a whopping 24,448 TVTs and a reach of 97 million viewers across India.

    . Female viewership in the opening week was a staggering 98 million across India. 

    The VIVO IPL has made an incredible impression in its first week and firmly cemented its position as the leading T20 tournament in India. The tournament still rules the roost across demographics and geographies, strengthening the fact that it is a family inclusive tournament and living up to its ‘Ek India Happywala’ promise.

  • VIVO IPL broadcast reaches a record-breaking 218 million viewers in its first week!

    VIVO IPL broadcast reaches a record-breaking 218 million viewers in its first week!

    MUMBAI: Sony MAX, Sony Six & Sony ESPN (part of Sony Pictures Networks India SPN), the official broadcasters of the VIVO IPL have surpassed all expectations in the opening week of the T20 cricket tournament.

    . VIVO IPL 2016 opened with a cumulative reach of 218 million viewers in its first week.

    . VIVO IPL 2016’s opening 7 games rated 21033 avg TVT at an all India (Urban+Rural) level. 

    . The opening game between Mumbai Indians & Rising Pune Supergiants rated a whopping 24,448 TVTs and a reach of 97 million viewers across India.

    . Female viewership in the opening week was a staggering 98 million across India. 

    The VIVO IPL has made an incredible impression in its first week and firmly cemented its position as the leading T20 tournament in India. The tournament still rules the roost across demographics and geographies, strengthening the fact that it is a family inclusive tournament and living up to its ‘Ek India Happywala’ promise.

  • Kapil Sharma set to make a comeback on Sony with comedy show in May

    Kapil Sharma set to make a comeback on Sony with comedy show in May

    MUMBAI: Speculations about actor – comedian Kapil Sharma joining hands with Sony Entertainment Television can finally be laid to rest. It’s official now! Sharma, who had a rather acrimonious fallout with Colors recently, is all set to join hands with Sony to launch a comedy show.

    Confirming the news to Indiantelevision.com, Sony Pictures Networks India CEO NP Singh said, “You will see Kapil soon on Sony TV in a few months’ time.”

    According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the weekend show is slated to launch in May. 

    A source close to development informed that Sharma’s new show on Sony will be produced by Frames Productions and Sharma’s K9. 

    It may be recalled that before hopping on to Colors with Comedy Nights With Kapil, he was onboard one of Sony’s most popular comedy reality shows – Comedy Circus and has also been a winner of six seasons.

    That apart, in a bid to grab eyeballs, Sony Entertainment Television is also gearing up to regale its audience with the launch of two new shows namely Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi and EK Duje Ke Vaste on 29 February.  

    Produced by Beyond Dreams Productions, Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi boasts of a talented star cast comprising Supriya Pilgaonkar, Shaheer Sheikh and Erica Fernandes in lead roles. It is a new age love story that deals with modern day intricacies of romantic relationships. The show will be aired at 9:30 pm from Monday – Friday. 

    On the other hand, Ek Duje Ke Vaste produced by Bindu Productions is a story of Shravan played by Namik Paul and Suman played by Nikita Dutta that explores the conflict between love and self-respect. It will be aired at 10 pm from Monday to Friday. 

    Sony Entertainment Television EVP & business head Danish Khan said, “Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi and Ek Duje Ke Vaste are based on real life insights and their soul lies in the story and narration. While Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi boasts of outstanding writers Mitali & Raghuveer, Ek Duje Ke Vasteis is being written by Dilip Jha, who is known for the classic Bade Acche Lagte Hain. We are thrilled to associate with Yash Patnaik & Dilip Jha for these two shows respectively.”