GECs
Star, UTV to sign deal on Vijay TV handover Wednesday?
Star India and Ronnie Screwvala’s UTV are set to formalise a deal to hand over control of the Tamil language channel Vijay TV it owns to the Rupert Murdoch-promoted company on Wednesday, industry sources say.
When contacted both Screwvala and Star India CEO would only say that nothing had been finalised as yet and that there would be a joint press conference in Chennai on Thursday explaining all issues relating to Vijay TV.
The UTV group acquired Vijay TV from the UB liquor group in 1999 for Rs 180 million. According to reports, the stock holding in Vijay TV at present is: Founder Promoters – Ronnie Screwvala & Co hold 51 per cent, News Corp 12 per cent, Warburg Pincus 6 per cent, Mitsui Japan/ILFS & IVC / International Equity Partners / United Breweries 4 per cent, other institutional investors including Schroder’s, etc 2 per cent and with the public 25 per cent.
Whatever may be the current status of ownership, Star virtually runs the channel anyway with it reportedly controlling programming, content, distribution and airtime sales. Business daily Economic Times reported that Star has appointed Ajay Vidyasagar as chief operating officer to manage the channel’s affairs.
Sources say that what has been delaying a formal inking of the deal till now is working out what exactly that stakeholding structure should be. Star has already put in an application with the Foreign Investment Promotion Bureau (FIPB) for Vijay TV, sources say.
According to current indications, after the papers are signed on Wednesday, Mukerjea and Screwvala will be flying down to Chennai to explain things to senior personnel at Vijay TV what exactly the new dispensation would entail. Mukerjea, however stated he was going with Screwvala to Chennai for the press conference, nothing else.
Vijay TV’s acquisition is apparently part of Star’s long-term plans to enter the regional broadcasting market. Mukerjea has at one time been quoted as saying that “expansion in the South through Vijay TV was synergetic.” Interestingly, at a press conference called at the end of June to celebrate a year of Star Plus becoming a completely 24-hour Hindi channel on 3 July, Mukerjea was quite categorical that a southern foray was not on the agenda at present.
If the deal does go through as expected, it could well make things difficult for rival Zee which has announced the takeover of Asianet Bharati as well as Asianet Kaveri ahead of renaming the channels Alpha Tamil and Alpha Kannada as the southern language additions to its Alpha regional bouquet.
In Tamil Nadu, the pecking order in the channel stakes is Sun TV (way ahead), Raj TV, Vijay TV and Asianet Bharati. It is the fight for the No.2 spot that should prove interesting viewing in the coming months.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
