GECs
BBC World awarded digital terrestrial licence in Berlin
LONDON: BBC World is rapidly making its presence felt in Europe. The beeb has announced that it has become the first and so far only foreign TV network to be awarded a digital terrestrial (DVBT) frequency in Berlin.
In a global first this August, the German capital will become a digital-only city for television, when the licensing body MABB switches off the analogue signal completely. Up to now, 25 stations have won licences to broadcast on the new digital spectrum, but BBC World will be the only non-German channel to have been granted a frequency.
An official release informs that BBC World has been broadcasting on terrestrial analogue television in Berlin since 1996. BBC World MD Dr. Patrick Cross said: “It is a great honour and a reflection of the quality of BBC World that we are the only news channel to have been granted this highly sought-after digital frequency in Berlin. I am delighted that viewers will continue to have access to our unrivalled, impartial news coverage.”
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.
