GECs
Danish Khan to move on from SPNI after shaping its tv and streaming playbook
MUMBAI: Danish Khan is calling time on a long, influential run at Sony Pictures Networks India, marking the end of a decade that helped redraw the map of Indian television and streaming.
Khan, currently business head of Sony LIV and studio next, will stay on until March 31 to ensure continuity, the company said. His exit closes a chapter that blended creative ambition with commercial discipline across broadcast, studios and digital.
At Sony LIV, where he took charge in 2019, Khan led a full-scale reboot—Sony LIV 2.0-and turned the platform into a serious contender in India’s crowded streaming race. Over five years, the service clocked more than five-fold topline growth and a four-times jump in monthly active users, contributing nearly 25 per cent of SPNI’s overall revenue, while keeping profitability firmly on the agenda. The run delivered a slate of cultural and commercial winners, including Scam, Maharani, Rocket Boys, Tabbar, Freedom at Midnight and Shark Tank.
Earlier, as business head of sony entertainment television, Khan oversaw some of Indian TV’s biggest franchises, from The Kapil Sharma Show and Kaun Banega Crorepati to Super Dancer and Superstar Singer, alongside successful fiction titles such as Beyhadh and Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai. He also set up studio next as a pipeline for scalable formats and original IP.
Gaurav Banerjee, managing director and chief executive officer of SPNI, said Khan played a key role in building the network’s television, studio and digital businesses, leaving behind a strong foundation.
Khan described SPNI as central to his professional journey, crediting teams, trust and shared ambition for what the group achieved together.
The company will announce succession plans in due course. Khan departs having proved that in Indian media, scale still matters—but storytelling and strategy matter more.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
