MAM
Sony hits jackpot with KBC in HSM metros
MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan, a.k.a Big B, has done it again for Sony Entertainment Television (Set).
Sony, which was eyeing a permanent third spot among the Hindi general entertainment channels (GEC) with Kaun Banega Crorepati season 5, was in for a surprise with the TAM mid-week ratings.
KBC has become the leader show in the non-fiction genre and SET the No. 1 channel, according to data provided by Set for three metros (Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata).
KBC has debuted with a 5.24 TVR on 15 August at the 8.30 pm slot, according to TAM mid-week data for the three metros.
KBC and two weekday fiction shows – Saas Bina Sasural and Bade Acche lagte Hain – pushed the channel ahead of Star Plus as it gained 111 GRPs (gross rating points). Star Plus, Colors and Zee TV followed with 106 GRPs, 100 GRPs and 63 GRPs respectively.
An elated Set Sr. EVP and business head Sneha Rajani said, “Mr Bachchan has once again proved that line starts from where he stands. We are delighted with the performance of KBC. These numbers show that we have yet again touched a chord with our viewers. The impressive opening numbers for KBC is an emphatic endorsement of our promise of delivering wholesome family entertainment has worked across the length and breadth of the country.”
Set also said that KBC 5 debut has even surpassed other reality shows on rival channels this year. It said that India‘s Got Talent on Colors had opened with a 4.5 TVR, followed by Just Dance on Star Plus (4 TVR) and Fear Factor khataron ke Khiladi Torchar (3.7 TVR).
In the last season (first season on Set), KBC had opened at 5.34 TVR. However, it was a one-hour show then; this time, the length of the show has increased by another half-hour.
Rajani said that her aim is to consolidate at No. 3, and grow from there. “KBC has given us a good start and all other shows are showing growth. We have the plan for the next six months ready.”
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Apple CEO Tim Cook to step down after 15 years, John Ternus to take over
Leadership shake-up sees long-time hardware chief step up from September
CUPERTINO: Apple has confirmed that chief executive officer Tim Cook will step down from his role and transition to executive chairman, with senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus set to take over as CEO from September 1, 2026.
The transition, approved unanimously by the board, marks a carefully planned leadership shift at one of the world’s most valuable companies. Cook will remain CEO through the summer, working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover before moving into his new role, where he will continue to support Apple and engage with policymakers globally.
In a memo to employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook reflected on his 15-year tenure, recalling the moment Steve Jobs asked him to step into the role. “It was an emotional and challenging moment for all of us at Apple,” he wrote, adding that the company’s core values, from simplicity and innovation to a commitment to improving lives, remain unchanged.
Explaining his decision, Cook said the company’s strong roadmap and future outlook made this the right time for a transition. “I have never been more optimistic about Apple’s future,” he noted, while announcing Ternus as his successor. He described Ternus as “a visionary in his own right” with “remarkable integrity” and the right leader to guide Apple into its next phase.
Cook said, “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour.”
Ternus, in his own note to employees, struck a steady, execution-focused tone. Ternus said, “It has been such a privilege to lead the hardware engineering team… I still plan to be very hands-on,” signalling continuity rather than a strategic reset.
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Ternus will step away from leading hardware engineering, with Tom Marieb taking over the role. Marieb will report to Johny Srouji, who assumes an expanded position as chief hardware officer, aligning hardware development more closely with Apple’s silicon and technology teams.
Cook also used his memo to thank employees, calling them “the most remarkable people in the world” and crediting them for building Apple into what it is today. A town hall has been scheduled at the Steve Jobs Theater to discuss the transition further.
The leadership change also sees Arthur Levinson move to the role of lead independent director, while Ternus joins Apple’s board.
Cook’s tenure has been defined by massive growth and expansion, with Apple’s market value rising from around $350 billion in 2011 to $4 trillion, alongside the launch of new product categories and a booming services business. Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran, has played a central role in shaping the company’s hardware roadmap, from iPhone and Mac to newer innovations in materials and sustainability.
The transition signals a generational shift, but not a dramatic change in direction. If anything, both memos point to continuity, discipline and a belief that Apple’s next chapter will be built on the same values that shaped its last.
