GECs
Aditya Ray takes over as CEO, Maharaja Television
MUMBAI: Zee Network’s head of operations, (eastern region) and business head of Alpha Bangla, Aditya Ray, has quit the organisation after a stint spanning seven years.
Ray joined Sri Lanka-based Maharaja Television Corporation that runs a network of three terrestrial television channels in Sri Lanka, as CEO from 1 June 2004.
Ray, who spent five years as head of marketing services at Zee Network before moving to the eastern region in 2002, was also responsible for turning around Alpha Bangla’s fortunes and making it a profit making venture in the first year that he took charge.
One of the few Bangla channels that is in the black, Alpha Bangla was also the first among the regional Alpha channels from the Zee stable to run up profits.
The IIT Mumbai and IIM-A alumnus will now be heading the television business of the 65-year old Maharaja Corporation, which also has a separate broadcast division that runs four radio stations in the country.
Ray’s charge includes the Sinhalese Sirasa channel, the Tamil Shakti channel and the English language Channel 1 MTV. His priorities would include establishing Sirasa as the leader among existing Sinhalese channels and exploring different distribution modes and markets for the three channels.
During his tenure at Zee, Ray looked after its marketing as well as for the other channels in the bouquet. He was part of the core team instrumental in the relaunch exercise undertaken in 2001, before he headed east in January 2002 to look after Zee Network’s operations there.
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.
