GECs
British prod head joins Sony Pictures Television Intl
LONDON: Production executive Chris Pye is Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) VP Worldwide Formats.
Pye formerly held top creative posts with Granada Content, BBC Production and BBC Television. In his new position, Pye will be working with both the international and domestic production units on the identification, development and implementation of game show and light entertainment formats for the worldwide marketplace.
The London based Pye will be responsible for identifying and acquiring formats that SPTI’s production group will launch through its international operations. In addition, Pye will work closely with SPT on identifying comedy and drama formats for production for broadcast and cable outlets in the US.
SPTI Europe’s senior VP and MD John McMahon added, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome such a respected and accomplished producer as Chris Pye to our production team. His arrival coincides with Sony’s plan to rapidly increase our development and production of light entertainment series, with our customers around the world. Chris’ substantial and varied experience will be a significant asset as we look to expand our format offerings to our clients around the world.”
Pye spent most of the 1990s working in executive production positions at the BBC Production, BBC Television, Anglia Television Entertainment and Scottish Television. Pye also spent over 13 years in the US, producing some of the biggest hits in television. He worked as a writer, producer and executive producer for the four major broadcast networks NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox.
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.
