GECs
AXN beats Star World and Zee English in the numbers game
MUMBAI: Though it does not exactly function in the same space that Star World and Zee English occupy, AXN does form a trio with the two in the category of English channels other than movie and news channels. And it is beating those two hollow in the numbers game.
According to Emediaplan, amongst AXN, Star World and Zee English, TAM data for the top 25 programmes (all markets CS 4+) for the week starting 23 November 2003, gives AXN the lead by a long way.
While the channel hogs the rankings on 22 places including the first 11 positions, Star World makes a first appearance on the twelfth position with The Simpsons followed by the international annual beauty pageant’s sub contest Miss World You Decide, which figures at number 16.
According to the results, the 23 November episode of The Simpsons, which registered a TVR of 0.13, fetched Star World a market share of 0.62 while market viewership is pegged at 0.09 million.
The 23rd and 24th slots are again taken by Star World’s TNA Wrestling and Focus Asia respectively. That’s about all the appearances that Star World manages to make in that week.
What is surprising about the results is that Zee English does not figure anywhere in the top 25.
On AXN, the most popular show during the week is clearly Guinness World Records. The programme walks away with the first slot as also the fourth and fifth. It leads the race with a market TVR of 0.26 on 23 November, generating a channel share of 1.69 and market viewership of 0.18 million.
The second lead is taken up by On The Spot, which fetches AXN a channel share of 0.88 and market viewership of 0.14 million. The show registered a TVR of 0.2 on 26 November.
Close on its heels, on the third spot is again AXN’s Relic Hunter with a TVR of 0.19 and a channel share of 0.72.
Vegas Showgirls, Wild On, Eff Barb Wire, Fear Factor and Music Xpress, all from the AXN stable, figure at the sixth to tenth spots in that order.
It’s clearly Advantage AXN all the way in the English language general entertainment space.
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.
