GECs
Sony’s interactive games for UK digi sat viewers
CALIFORNIA: Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment has launched GoPlayTV, a service offering digital satellite viewers in the United Kingdom interactive versions of Sony Pictures’ globally recognized Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY! games.
Although the service launched without any heavy promotion, it has nevertheless already resonated with satellite users during its pre-marketing period. GoPlayTV is available with any Sky Digital remote control.
SPDE President Yair Landau said, “GoPlayTV is the latest example of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment’s mission to deliver premium content to consumers across all networked platforms, This is SPDE’s most significant foray into Europe where interactivity via set top boxes is well ahead of the United States.”
The service launches with Wheel of Fortune and JEOPARDY!, with additional games to be added later, from both Sony Pictures’ deep content library as well as third party content partners. Wheel of Fortune was on the air in the UK for years, and the show continues to be the number one syndicated programme in the US where the format was born over 20 years ago.
With GoPlayTV, users at home can spin the wheel, guess the letters, and solve the puzzles, all using their Sky Digital remote control. JEOPARDY! is also a global phenomenon, having been locally produced in numerous countries around the world, including the UK. With GoPlayTV, JEOPARDY! players can test their mental prowess by guessing the correct question that goes with a given answer and choosing from a variety of categories and point levels. GoPlayTV features include winners lists, near real-time top scores lists and always-fresh content. The service also gives players the opportunity to win daily, weekly and monthly prizes from Sony and other leading companies.
GoPlayTV can be accessed day or night by pressing the Interactive button on any Sky Digital remote control.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
