GECs
Bob Bakish appointed president, MTV Networks International
MUMBAI: Viacom veteran Bob Bakish has been appointed president, MTV Networks International (MTVNI), reporting to Bill Roedy, who will retain oversight of MTVNI in addition to his global role as vice chairman, MTV Networks.
In the newly-created position, Bakish will take on day-to-day management responsibility for MTVNI, including the local and regional operations across Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, as well as International functions and business units. Reporting to Bakish will be the managing directors of the key regions and MTVNI Chief Operating Officer Alex Ferrari, who will continue in his current role.
A 10-year veteran of the company, Bakish is currently Viacom’s executive vice president, operations and Viacom Enterprises, responsible for strategic planning, business development, Famous Music, Viacom Plus and IS&T. Bakish also heads up the company’s cross-divisional marketing council. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc.
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.
