GECs
Bennett, Coleman eyes small stake in Sahara One
MUMBAI: Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd (BCCL) is in talks with Sahara One Media and Entertainment to take around five per cent stake in the company.
BCCL (publishers of Times of India and the Group is 74 per cent stakeholder in Times Now news channel) picks up small stakes in various companies as a barter transaction for advertisements that it puts up for clients on its media vehicles.
“Negotiations are on at this stage,” a source who is familiar with the talks said.
When contacted, Percept Holdings joint managing director Shailendra Singh declined to comment on the issue. Percept has a management contract to handle Sahara’s entertainment business.
BCCL president Arun Arora could not be contacted.
Speaking on Sahara One Media and Entertainment, Singh said the company was on a growth trajectory and had expansion plans.
“We are considering the launch of a music channel within six months. If the plans firm up, Sahara One’s bouquet will comprise a general entertainment, a movie and a music channel,” he added.
Sahara One Media and Entertainment is seeking board approval to consider raising resources through debt, equity or a mix of both. The amount will be decided after finalising the expansion plans of the company for its movie and TV content business.
Sahara had appointed Ernst & Young to value its media and entertainment business. The consulting firm has recently submitted the report.
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.
