GECs
Ashish Kotekar Heads The Q’s Ad Sales Regions
Thiruvananthapuram: Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) The Q has appointed Ashish Kotekar as Head of Ad Sales for the West and South regions. Under the new position, Ashish will be responsible for driving up sales in the two regions, and report directly to CEO Simran Hoon.
Ashish has two decades of sales experience in the media and entertainment industry. Before joining The Q, he was associated with the Zee Network as the zonal head for the west and south regions across Zee Live, Zee Cafe, and Living Foodz. He has also worked with Ten Sports, Star India, Turner, Reliance Broadcast Network, and Sony Entertainment Television in various positions.
“I am excited to embark on this journey with The Q. The Q has already had an exciting growth story in India with its differentiated content approach within a short span. I look forward to working with the team as well as to building new partnerships to help scale the company to newer heights,” said Ashish Kotekar.
The Q CEO Simran Hoon said, “We welcome Ashish to The Q India family. Ashish brings in extensive knowledge and experience across both mature and emerging clients. He will lead The Q’s growth in the Western and Southern markets. We are certain that with Ashish’s understanding and experience, we will be able to further deepen The Q’s presence and help the channel grow in these markets.”
A few days back, The Q had promoted Krishna Menon as its new COO. Menon has been working with The Q since 2018, and the company decided to promote him as the COO for his efforts in growing its business from a small independent channel into one of India’s fastest-growing media brands.
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.
