MAM
Crown Media in discussions to sell Hallmark
MUMBAI: Crown Media Holdings which runs the Hallmark Channel is said to be talking to different groups of investors to sell the broadcasters international operations.
A Reuters report added that last year Crown Media’s international operations lost $21 million on about $83 million of revenue. While Hallmark UK and South America have had offers it will be interesting to see if the Asia operations find any buyers. A couple of years ago the company had closed down its Singapore sales office.
It had also reduced the number feeds for the Asia Pacific region from seven to just two.
Crown Media realised at that time that it would be better off concentrating on trying to shore up the European market revenues and strengthening the US content offering.
In India, the channel is still struggling to make a mark despite original and high quality content. As reported a few months ago by indiantelevision.com, Hallmark had decided to stop taking ads in order to differentiate itself from other channels showing movies and mini-series.
What is also interesting from the India angle is the fact that HBO is said to be interested in Hallmark’s Latin America business and in the international rights to its 700-title programme library. If that deal goes though then HBO in India could have more original content to crow about apart from, of course, its original movies like the recently aired The Gathering Storm and series like Sex & The City.
The Reuters report has gone on to state that one of the principal parties in the negotiations is David Elstein, who used to be Channel 5’s CEO. The group of investors led by him is believed to have offered about $300 million for the entire Hallmark package. Other parties negotiating include private equity firms 3i Group and Providence Equity Partners.
Sources have also indicated that Crown Media is interested in getting Sony involved to counter Elstein’s offer. What could prove to be a hurdle here is that Sony is looking at acquiring MGM, which it feels could be more
profitable.
Another person who could just throw his hat in the ring, at least as far as the UK is concerned, is media moghul Rupert Murdoch. In the past, pay TV operator BSkyB had expressed interested in Hallmark’s UK channel. What has come in the way of the sale process is the market conditions. Also, Hallmark’s long-term contractual obligations with the cable and satellite TV providers that broadcast the channel deterred some parties, including Viacom.
Not surprisingly Crown Media will keep and continue expanding Hallmark US, which is proving profitable. It reaches about 59 million viewers and has a slightly different line-up of shows from what air internationally. They include Matlock, Mash and The Waltons.
Brands
Sony Pictures Networks India names Shruti Aneja as lead – agency partnerships & key network initiatives
Aneja takes charge to deepen agency ties and boost revenue across Spni channels
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has appointed Shruti Aneja as lead – agency partnerships, signalling a fresh focus on closer collaboration with advertising agencies and a sharper push for revenue growth across its channel portfolio.
In her new role, Aneja will chart strategic engagement with agencies, unlock new revenue streams, and nurture long-term partnerships. Her mission includes driving sales performance, adding value for clients, and delivering inventive solutions for advertisers — cementing Spni’s position as a preferred media partner.
Aneja brings over 12 years of experience with Spni, having risen through the ranks from manager to associate vice president. She has led high-performing sales teams across key clusters including sony hindi gec, free-to-air channels, and english entertainment channels like pix, axn and bbc earth.
Her track record includes driving integrated ad sales for popular shows such as Celebrity MasterChef, Indian Idol and Superstar Singer, pioneering first-time brand integrations, and repositioning channels for maximum impact in both urban and rural markets.
Aneja’s approach combines content-first thinking with solution-led selling, focusing on empathy, insight and storytelling that resonates with audiences and brands alike. Colleagues praise her knack for building trust with agencies and clients while spotting innovative ways to convert ideas into revenue.
With this appointment, Spni aims to strengthen its agency relationships and continue delivering compelling advertising solutions that combine creativity with performance.
