GECs
Bharath Raj takes charge as head of marketing for Sun Gemini and Sun Udaya
MUMBAI: Sun TV Network has tapped Bharath Raj as its new head of marketing for Sun Gemini and Sun Udaya, adding a seasoned regional strategist to its leadership bench.
With more than 15 years spent shaping brands across television, digital and print, Raj has built his reputation on a simple creed: marketing works only when it understands people. His career spans Jio Star, Viacom18 and Asianet News, where he crafted campaigns rooted in cultural nuance, timing and audience emotion: the ingredients that drive what viewers watch, remember and champion.
Raj’s strengths lie in insight-led brand strategy, audience behaviour, 360-degree campaign design and regional storytelling. His work stretches across TV, digital, outdoor, print and on-ground formats, with a focus on shaping creative systems and leading teams that deliver consistent, clear and collaborative output.
Announcing his move, Raj said he was “happy to start a new chapter” at Sun TV Network, where he will steer marketing for two of the network’s key southern channels. The appointment strengthens Sun’s push to deepen its regional footprint with sharper strategy, stronger creative engines and campaigns tuned to the rhythms of local audiences.
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.
