GECs
325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe
MUMBAI: A study Leverkusen – Statistics for Europe show an annual 325 fires for every million television sets compared with just six in the US.
The main reason for this is that TV housings on the old continent are still usually made from materials with little or no flame retardancy. In the US, materials with the V-0 classification are used, in compliance with the U.S. fire safety standard UL94.
The risk of fire produced by televisions and IT equipment is now increasingly a focus of attention for the media and the public. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is also responding to the growing safety demands, with the IEC TC 108 – the standards committee with global responsibility for this area – currently laying down new requirements for flame retardance in TV sets.
Bayer MaterialScience a polymer manufacturer says that the requirements can already be met by its FR grades, flame-retardant polycarbonate (PC) blends and special grades of the Bayer MaterialScience polycarbonate Makrolon®.
Bayer Industry Services Michael Halfmann says, “One of the aims of IEC TC 108 is to protect TV sets more effectively from external ignition sources like a burning candle that has toppled over. Some 12 to 20 per cent of all TV fires do not originate in the set but from an external fire source. The new standard therefore specifies areas of a TV set that can be reached by the flame of a candle that has fallen over. The TV must not catch fire in these areas even if it is exposed to the flame for three minutes.
”Our flame-retardant PC/ABS blends and PC grades do not just conform to IEC standards. They can also be used without any problems as a housing material that conforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and RoHS EU directives.”
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.
