MAM
Sony in hot pursuit, eyes No.3 spot with KBC
MUMBAI: Zee TV is under attack. For the third time in the year, Sony Entertainment Television is trailing behind by just three GRPs (gross rating points).
The problem for Zee TV is that Sony‘s flagship game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) will make its appearance from 15 August. The Amitabh Bachchan-hosted show at 8.30 pm is positioned as a gateway to Sony‘s primetime programming.
Sony expects its two fiction shows – Saas Bina Sasural (10 pm) and Bade Acche Lagte Hain (10.30 pm) – to get a lift.
“We are confident that KBC will deliver again. With or without KBC, Sony will reach the No. 3 position by the year-end,” said Set senior EVP and business head Sneha Rajani.
For week ended 6 August, Set is at fourth place on the GEC ladder with 187 GRPs (last week 190), as per TAM data for Hindi speaking markets (C&S, 4+) for the week ended 6 August. Zee TV is ahead with 190 GRPs (208 last week).
Meanwhile, Star Plus continues to lead with 304 GRPs (last week 345). The loss of 41 GRPs comes after the IIFA Award telecast.
Colors is ranked second, comfortably ahead of Zee TV. Colors ended the week with 269 GRPs (last week 266). Balika Vadhu has once again topped the charts with 5.69 TVR.
Sab clocked 124 GRPs in the week, one less from last week‘s ratings. Imagine TV collected 70 GRPs, while Star One and Sahara One are at the bottom with 36 and 33 GRPs respectively.
Brands
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.
