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Tag: SPN

  • Sony India rejigs top leadership at Sony LIV, SET

    Sony India rejigs top leadership at Sony LIV, SET

    MUMBAI: Sony LIV, the digital business arm of Sony Pictures Networks (SPN), the media conglomerate that manages 29 TV Channels in India, today announced big changes in its top leadership.

    Ashish Golwalkar who has led the content portfolio for SET and has played a pivotal role in the success of its tent pole properties and the creation of two new non-fiction formats, has been given additional responsibility of Sony LIV. Effective immediately, he will manage content for both SET and SonyLIV as Head – Content, SET & Digital Business.

    Aman Srivastava, who has played an important role in the rebranding and positioning of SET will move to Sony LIV as Head – Marketing, Digital Business.

    Amogh Dusad as Head – Programming and New Initiatives, Digital Business will handle Strategic Planning, Operations, Viewership Management and Analytics for Sony LIV.

    As the digital business of SPN gears up for transformation, its agenda will be led by some of India’s finest entertainment minds, under the leadership of Danish Khan, the company said in a statement.

    Besides, Amit Raisinghani has been elevated to Head – Business Planning and Communications, SET. In this new role, reporting to Danish Khan, Amit will be responsible for Marketing, On Air Promotions and the Communications portfolio along with Programming Strategy, Insights and Operations.

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, Japan.  SPN has several channels including Sony Entertainment Television (SET), one of India's leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; MAX, Sony Six, Sony Ten, among others.

  • SPN’s Neville Bastawalla on ‘massification’ of niche sports and Australian Open broadcast extension

    SPN’s Neville Bastawalla on ‘massification’ of niche sports and Australian Open broadcast extension

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India’s (SPN) sports segment is highly focusing on niche segments and so Tennis Australia and SPN have extended their broadcast deal by three years at the official Australian Open 2020 media launch. SPN sports business head-marketing and on-air promotions Neville Bastawalla said ‘massification’ is the only way to grow viewership for niche sports while the segment has huge opportunity.

    “There is a challenge and as well as opportunity. These are niche sports and the viewership is low. But the opportunity is certain. If you build the right relevance with these selective niche sports, identify and target them and build localisation, you will reach the tipping point and viewership will explode,” he said.

    He elaborated that there will be a 360 degree marketing like last year panning across sports network, social media. Last season’s heavy TV promotion primarily helped the network to grow the viewership of the Australian Open by 39 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018. He is also confident that it will grow further next year. He also added that the broadcaster is exploring the option of regional feeds for finales. He also added that they will integrate marketing plans for the league on SonyLIV together with TV as all screens are converging now.

    “We are going to synergise more this year with the Australian Open marketing team or how can we drive synergies to grow in India. We are going to work three months in advance,” he noted.

    Although cricket has a legacy, broadcasters are now betting on new sports too. Although the marketing spend on cricket still remains the highest, Bastawalla says that the focus on the Australian Open is similar to a non-Indian team cricket or the UEFA Champions League or WWE.

    He mentioned that the viewership of UEFA Champions league grew by 50 per cent in 2019 year over year. On the other hand, Serie A league has the highest reach in the country among football leagues. Although India is primarily a cricket-viewing country, there is a huge potential of other sports to grow by building relevance and localisation with the global entertainers of the world.

    Post the new tariff order, SPN has also come out with advertisements urging customers to pick its channels. “It’s more about telling consumers why they should subscribe to our channels also. Give them a reason to buy us. We constantly keep talking to our consumers with different propositions about why they should subscribe to SPN sports channels. This has to be a consistent effort – talking about subscription from a marketing perspective. We are very happy with the response we got so far with our campaigns,” he commented.

    Starting January, SPN will also commence promotions for another flagship event – the Olympics. This is almost six to seven months in advance of the games.

    However, despite the focus on niche genres, the channel has got over 200 days of cricket coming up, as they have rights to New Zealand tour of Australia, Australia tour of South Africa, England tour of South Africa, Big Bash League and T10 League.

  • SonyLIV business head Uday Sodhi decides to move on

    SonyLIV business head Uday Sodhi decides to move on

    MUMBAI: Uday Sodhi, Business Head of SonyLIV, has decided to move on, after building up the digital business of Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) for almost five years. Uday will now pursue his entrepreneurial passion in the start-up space.

    SonyLIV is the pioneer in the OTT space in India. During  his stint, Uday was responsible for the introduction of its subscription model, SonyLIV's relaunch and the international launch of SonyLIV subscriptions, among many others. Under his leadership sport tournaments like Euro
    2016, FIFA World Cup 2018 and India Australia  series 2018 saw phenomenal success in terms of digital viewership.

    With Uday's movement, the mantle  of SonyLIV will now be shouldered by Danish Khan as the newly appointed business head of SPN's digital business. This will be in addition to Danish's responsibilities as Business Head of Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and Studio NEXT.

    In a career  spanning over two decades, Danish  has successfully managed teams across marketing and programming having worked with Sony MAX, SET and Star Plus in his previous avatars. Under  his leadership as business  head for SET, the channel has become the #1 Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) in the country. He has brought marquee properties like Kaun Banega Crorepati and The Kapil Sharma Show to SET and created our own IPs with unique shows  like Super Dancer and Superstar Singer, which have received widespread recognition across the industry. Danish has also been instrumental in launching and nurturing the Studio NEXT business, armed with the ambition of making SPN a content leader in the M&E industry.

    Both, Danish and Uday will work on a transition plan over the next month, in consultation and partnership with relevant stakeholders. Uday's last working day at SPN will be 15 November
    2019.

    On behalf of everyone at SPN, we wish Uday success in his future endeavours and continued success to Danish in his expanded responsibilities.
     

  • Abu Dhabi T10 & Sony Pictures Networks India to capture massive global audience

    Abu Dhabi T10 & Sony Pictures Networks India to capture massive global audience

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has joined with Abu Dhabi T10 as their official broadcast partner for the third consecutive year to bring the unique cricket extravaganza to a worldwide viewership of nearly a billion fans.

    All twenty-nine Abu Dhabi T10 matches will be telecast live on Sony Pictures Network India’s massive viewer base of 700 million on Sony Six and Sony Ten 3 channels. In addition to this, SonyLIV and Jio will allow another 300 million viewers to live-stream the tournament on their mobile phones through their OTT platforms, bumping potential viewership numbers for the event to truly astronomical levels.

    Sony Pictures Networks India, chief revenue officer, distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “Cricket dominates the viewership in India and our aim is to serve the interests of our viewers. The T10 League is extremely engaging and its fast-paced format has attracted a loyal following across demographics since its inaugural edition on Sony Pictures Networks in 2017. The T10 League is considered the latest avatar of the most watched sport in the country and this edition awaits a higher degree of thrill and excitement with the inclusion of some of the biggest names in the sport.”

    The move comes as the next strategic step in positioning the Abu Dhabi T10 franchise as a truly world-class sporting spectacle, after moving to the United Arab Emirates capital and forging key partnerships with local government entities there.

    The prime mover behind the deal and the originator of the only ICC-sanctioned ten-over cricket league in the world, T10 Sports Management chairman Shaji Ul Mulk, spoke glowingly about the significance of ten-over cricket and the new broadcast partnership: “This is a very fast format and I’m sure children will take a liking towards the league. It is like watching a football match, the action is over in 90 minutes and there is lot of drama and entertainment. It is the next big thing in the world of cricket. As the format gathers more fans, we want to make sure that no one is left disappointed and so we have partnered with Sony Pictures Networks India and Jio to telecast the cricket extravaganza live on their platforms.”

    In addition to its massive subscriber base, Sony Pictures Networks India brings broadcast expertise and strong credentials to its part of the deal. The network is the premier destination for cricket in India, with rights to eight international cricket boards including England and Wales Cricket Board and was also the official broadcaster of the recently concluded Ashes.

    On Monday, Sony representatives and Abu Dhabi T10 officials mingled with celebrities and cricket superstars to celebrate the partnership deal. England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan and former India speedster Zaheer Khan were on hand as official ambassadors for the Abu Dhabi T10 which is set to kick off from 14 November 2019 to 24 November 2019 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the UAE capital.

    Morgan spoke of the shift in perception with the new deal and the move to Abu Dhabi: “More people are watching because it’s a faster game and we’re playing in a city that loves to do things big. Big stars, big audiences, big action on the pitch. And players love playing in Abu Dhabi because it represents an audience that loves one-of-a-kind entertainments. That’s T10 in a nutshell.”

    For this year’s Abu Dhabi T10, eight teams will face each another in 29 action-packed matches across 10 days. The star-studded line-up of international cricket talent shines a light on the game’s global appeal, with the likes of Australian icons Shane Watson and Cameron White, West Indians Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo; Sri Lankan duo Angelo Matthews and pacer Lasith Malinga; and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad and Rashid Khan all set to participate in November.

    The global appeal of cricket and the attraction of Abu Dhabi as a travel and sporting destination create a winning formula for local government stakeholders, as well, including the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, according to CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket, Matthew Boucher: “This media agreement is truly unique, broadcasting the destination of Abu Dhabi to over 700 million homes in India via 6 of the most renowned television and streaming channels in India. Together with the Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi we are thrilled to be partnering with Sony Pictures Network to amplify the Abu Dhabi T10 broadcast so comprehensively into one of our key source tourism markets.”

    With potential viewership numbers approaching those of elite global sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, some have speculated that the T10 format may play a key role in taking cricket to the Olympics as an official competitive sport.  

    Former Indian pacer, Zaheer Khan, said, “The success of Abu Dhabi T10 can lead to greater things for cricket. As more people enjoy the game live or on TV, this can lead to greater development and the spread of cricket to other non-traditional countries.”   

    During the first season of the league Kerala Knights were crowned as champions while second season saw Northern Warriors come out on top. This year with more international stars coming into the league, fans can expect more entertainment on the field with the level of cricket set to improve manifolds. 

  • Sony Pictures Network’s Sneha Rajani quits after 20 years with the organisation

    Sony Pictures Network’s Sneha Rajani quits after 20 years with the organisation

    MUMBAI: Sneha Rajani, Head of Sony Pictures Networks (SPN’s) film production division, Sony Pictures Networks Productions (SPNP), has decided to move on, after an illustrious career of 20 years with the organisation.

     Sneha’s contribution to the organization has been immense. The line-up of her illustrious achievements is long. She has been instrumental in launching Sony MAX, which is India’s leading movie channel, revolutionizing the content of Sony Entertainment Television(SET) with shows like Bade Acche Lagte Hai, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Parvarish etc., and then propelling a multitude of Hindi movie hits with the production of Piku, Azhar, Mubarkaan and Soorma.

    She has also led some of the industry’s firsts like the iconic cricket wrap-around show ‘Extraaa Innings’ with a female presenter for the first time ever and created television history not only with the ratings but how cricket began to be consumed in this country. In addition, Rajani has played a valuable role in shaping the diversity agenda of SPN, enabling an inclusive work environment.

      “At an organizational level, Sneha’s contributions have been game changing. She has successfully chaperoned the organization’s growth from launching Sony MAX, India’s leading Hindi movies channel to leading our flagship channel, SET, and establishing SPN’s theatrical division – SPNP and many more. She has been an active crusader for dignity and has led the diversity team at SPN, shaping the organization into a truly inclusive workplace. Her dedication and commitment to the organization’s cause has been unflinching and symbolic of her loyalty. Sneha’s exit later next month will leave a large void in SPN’s management team. My best wishes are with her,” SPN managing director and CEO NP Singh commented.

  • ‘Baalveer Returns’ to bridge quality gap between TV and OTT: Sony Sab’s Neeraj Vyas

    ‘Baalveer Returns’ to bridge quality gap between TV and OTT: Sony Sab’s Neeraj Vyas

    MUMBAI: Sony Sab is aiming to reduce the quality gap between channels and OTT platform with the launch of its new show Baalveer Returns. Baalveer Returns is the first show from Sony Pictures Network India which is digital-first. The show will be streamed on Sony LIV at 9 am for paid subscribers and it will be telecast on Sony Sab at 8 pm from 10 September.  

    Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX movie cluster business head Neeraj Vyas said, “Television today is competing with OTT which essentially is about binge-watch, less number of episodes and the quality that they deliver will also be a challenge for TV to match. But this one show will be bridging the quality gap. The show will go a long way in enhancing the perception of the channel and the brand even more than what it is.”

    For the past few weeks, Sony Sab has been consistently seen at number 2 or 3 in the top 10 Hindi GEC channels list of BARC India ratings. With the launch of the new show, the channel expects that its efforts and time taken in creating ‘Baalveer Returns’ gets transformed into ratings.

    However, Vyas is of the view that more than ratings, the attempt is to get people to take note of the quality.

    The channel is also elated that even in a post-NTO world, subscribers have decided to pay Rs 15 for Sony Sab. "Ratings is one reality but it is not the only reality which means we have to work on the quality of the product that we deliver day in and day out," he said.

    Giving more details into the show, Vyas said, “Baalveer is not just a show, it’s a legend! Years ago, when we showcased Baalveer on Sony SAB, it quickly gained a huge fan following. We are expecting this fan following to become bigger than ever with the launch of Baalveer Returns. This show is a true example of fantasy done right. With cutting edge VFX which will delight, stunt work that will boggle the mind and performances that will move, Baalveer Returns is going to be an epic adventure that audiences are sure to fall in love with. With a universal theme of Good vs. Evil, the show will appeal to everyone – young and old alike and is a true representation of the kind of content Sony SAB is appreciated for – values driven and with a heart. The show fits beautifully with our commitment to provide happiness and we believe it has got all the ingredients to become a massive hit.”

    Sony Pictures Networks CEO NP Singh said, “Sab is in its fifteenth year now. In April 2004 we re-launched SAB after the acquisition of the channel as Sony SAB. I am very proud and satisfied as it is one of the most stable channels in the genre. For the last couple of months, SAB has been in the top three channels.”

    He further said, “A new fresh energised SAB is something that we are showcasing now, from being a comedy channel it has now become a channel for family. After the NTO implementation SAB’s audiences have remained loyal to the channel and our subscriber numbers are also increasing month on month. With the launch of Baalveer Returns, it is expected to grow further. Time spent on the channel has grown dramatically. People not only subscribe to it but also watch it on a regular basis which is reflecting when the ratings come."

    SonyLIV Digital Business business Head Uday Sodhi commented, “We are excited to bring this iconic show to our digital viewers in India on our OTT platform. For the first time ever, Baalveer Returns will be available on SonyLIV a few hours prior to its televised broadcast to all premium subscribers. This is an innovation to get the mobile-first audience to watch the show and add to the excitement that the show offers. SonyLIV has always been a frontrunner in streaming relatable content to its viewers and this is our endeavour in that direction.”

    Optimystix Entertainment founding chairman & MD Vipul D Shah said, “Baalveer Returns has been produced such that it revolutionises the way people watch fantasy dramas on television. Besides the new cast, a lot of effort has gone into designing the costumes and the sets, so that we provide a thrilling, edge-of-the-seat, visual treat to the viewers. The fans are in for a real extravaganza! Besides the look and feel of the show, a lot of fine work has gone into the scripting which will get the fans hooked on to the show and we hope to receive the same love & approval they have shown before.”

  • Sony Pictures Networks India takes a lead with its ‘Freedom of Entertainment’ initiative

    Sony Pictures Networks India takes a lead with its ‘Freedom of Entertainment’ initiative

    MUMBAI: In a unique industry initiative, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is introducing closed captioningfor its linear televised programmingstarting with two of its popular Hindiserials, ‘Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein’ (Sony Entertainment Television) and ‘Jijaji Chhat Per Hai’ (Sony SAB).Starting 15th August 2019, the afternoon episodes of these two shows will be closed captioned in Hindi.

    Through its ‘Freedom of Entertainment’ initiative, Sony Pictures Networks India  aims to make entertainment an inclusive experience for everyone including persons with disabilities. 

    This is one of the many pioneering initiatives undertaken by SPN.In the months to come, SPN intends to extend this close captioning feature to other popular shows, to ensure that the entertainment it offers can be enjoyed by all.Depending on the technical capability of the downstream platform/service provider, viewers will have the choice to switch-on or switch-off the closed captions.

    Please watch our shows with closed captioning and provide feedback by writing in tobrand@setindia.comas we endeavour to better this experience.
     

  • Sony Pictures Networks points finger at organisers for World Cup Kabaddi no-show

    Sony Pictures Networks points finger at organisers for World Cup Kabaddi no-show

    MUMBAI: Last week, India won the men’s and women’s World Cup Kabaddi 2019 beating Iraq and Taiwan respectively. While the men eased past Iraq 57-27, the women scored a convincing 47-29 win at the Mini Stadium Bistari in Melaka, Malaysia. Now, if you’re wondering why the twin triumphs escaped your attention or found no mention on your social media feeds, the reason is quite simple. The matches were not televised by the media rights holder Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) for the Indian audiences.

    SPN had acquired the exclusive media rights for World Cup Kabaddi 2019, which was held from 20-28 July. The network had got into an agreement with the Malaysia Kabaddi Federation for rights to televise the tournament on its sports channels across eight countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan. SPN was also to make it available to consumers on its streaming service SonyLIV.

    “While we were all set to broadcast the World Cup Kabaddi Melaka 2019 for all our Kabaddi fans in India, we were unable to do so as the organisers did not produce the event for television broadcast due to some issues that they were facing,” SPN said in a statement.

    World Cup Kabaddi was billed as the marquee event for the World Kabaddi, a body formed just over a year ago. World Kabaddi describes itself as the governing body for the sport in all its three formats – National Style, Beach Kabaddi and Circle Style. It was established following a meeting of more than 50 countries from five continents in Bengaluru in March 2018 with Ashok Kumar Das as president

    “The addition of World Cup Kabaddi 2019 to our portfolio augments the positioning of the sports cluster of Sony Pictures Networks India as a global multi-sporting arena with the best international content. We have always worked towards building a multi-sport viewing culture in India with our diverse sports portfolio of international tournaments and marquee events. Kabaddi is one of the more popular sports in the country and we are delighted to be the official broadcasters of an international tournament that positions Kabaddi as a mainstream international sport,” SPN chief revenue officer, distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul had said after securing the exclusive media rights for the World Cup Kabaddi.

  • Sony MAX kicks off celebrations for landmark 20 years of entertaining movie lovers

    Sony MAX kicks off celebrations for landmark 20 years of entertaining movie lovers

    MUMBAI: Sony MAX, India’s leading premiere Hindi movie channel from Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has created a benchmark by becoming the only channel across genres, to sustain a long-standing leadership stint for 148 weeks in a row. To mark this milestone and kick-start the celebration of 20 glorious years of entertaining movie lovers in India, Sony MAX has rolled out its latest TV campaign highlighting its brand essence ‘Deewana Bana De’. 

    The campaign – Yeh Hai Desh Ki Deewangi celebrates the spirit of millions of cinema fans whose passion and enthusiasm for movies make them special and larger than life. The TVC, which first aired at 20:20 on 20 July 2019, marks the launch of an elaborate marketing blitzkrieg across multiple touchpoints as a run-up to the special day in October 2019.

    The latest TVC, the first of many initiatives in a three-month integrated campaign, “Yeh Desh ki Deewangi” relives classic golden moments from some of the most memorable movies of the past two decades. India has grown up on a staple feed of filmy masala, culture curry and cinematic servings dished up by Sony MAX. Gullu Gulati, the central character of the campaign, is the personification of the deewanapan of Sony MAX. The film follows Gullu Gulati, charting a 20-year journey of ‘Deewangi’ as he lives his life unabashedly imitating iconic scenes from movies and his favorite stars like Raj Aryan from Mohabattein, Raj from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Bahhubali and Sultan. 

    The TVCs are conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group and shot by Footloose Films. To promote the campaign, the channel is engaging in a massive television plan across news, kids and regional channels for three weeks. The marketing plan also consists of a huge digital leg.

    Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX movie cluster business head Neeraj Vyas said, “I am thrilled that Sony MAX which has been the undisputed leader, week on week for nearly three years, setting unparalleled standards in the industry, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For two decades, our robust library of films, path-breaking concepts, trend-setting programming has made the channel a strong favorite. We take pride in our deep audience insights and our ability to keep abreast of the dynamic and evolving movie viewing patterns that have helped us stay ahead of the curve. On this truly momentous occasion, we reiterate our commitment to offering only best-in-class entertainment.”

    Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX movie cluster head, marketing and communications Vaishali Sharma commented, “As Sony MAX completes 20 years, we are extremely excited to present our viewers with the brand-new campaign that bring together our two memorable decades in ‘Yeh Hai Desh Ki Deewangi.’ Like Gullu Gulati, each one of us have grown up with the passion and madness for movies. He represents the heart of every Indian. With this milestone, we only promise to get better and bigger from here on while entertaining our audiences to their heart’s content.”

    DDB Mudra Group national creative director Rahul Mathew said, “Indians and Hindi cinema are inseparable and when it comes to movies, it’s Sony MAX. The clear brief given to us was to conceptualise a campaign for the channel which has been the epitome of Bollywood movies for past 2 decades now. To capture the essence of this stature we had to recreate the ‘Deewangi’ that represents the emotions of the entire nation. Hence, Gullu was born whose ‘Deewangi’ for movies and Sony MAX resonates with every movie lover in India.”

  • Siti withdraws petition against SPN from TDSAT

    Siti withdraws petition against SPN from TDSAT

    MUMBAI: Siti Network Ltd has withdrawn its two-year-old petition against Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India Pvt Ltd and ORS from the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), stating that the parties have settled their differences.

    Siti and Sony had some differences between them on the issue of accounting. While filing the petition in TDSAT, Siti had requested for an interim protection on the ground that it requires some more time to reconcile the accounts.  As per Sony, the total payable including payable for the month of December, 2017 was Rs 68.38 crore but according to the petitioner Siti the amount was much less.

    Following two-years of hearings and adjournments, the parties decided to settle their differences amicably. A bank guarantee of huge amount was involved in the petition amount of which is needed for payment of salaries etc. of employees. After its encashment the petition was formally withdrawn.