GECs
DesiPlay TV launches on Rakuten TV
Mumbai: DesiPlay TV, Viacom18’s FAST channel featuring premium Hindi content, has announced its exciting launch on Rakuten TV in the United Kingdom and across Europe in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.
IndiaCast Media, the content monetisation arm of TV18 and Viacom18, is expanding DesiPlay TV’s global reach, allowing audiences greater access to popular content from India. DesiPlay TV’s recent launch on Pluto TV in the UK and Europe, followed by its addition to Rakuten TV, highlights IndiaCast Media’s dedication to bringing entertainment to viewers worldwide. DesiPlay TV is now available on major FAST platforms such as Sling, Plex, Pluto TV, Shahid, YuppTV, and Rakuten TV, covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of DesiPlay TV on Rakuten TV, further solidifying our position as the number one provider of premium Hindi content for audiences worldwide,” said IndiaCast Media Distribution Pvt Ltd executive vice president and head of international business, Govind Shahi. “This strategic partnership allows us to reach a wider audience across the UK & Europe and cater to the growing demand for high-quality Hindi entertainment. With DesiPlay TV now available on Rakuten TV, more viewers can explore a world of captivating stories and unforgettable characters, that too in HD quality with English subtitles!”
DesiPlay TV offers a curated collection of Hindi television shows and Bollywood movies, catering to a variety of tastes. Whether you’re interested in the drama of daily soaps like ‘Uttaran,’ ‘Na Aana Is Des Laado,’ ‘Tu Aashiqui,’ ‘Sanskaar: Dharohar Apnon Ki,’ the suspense of crime thrillers like ‘Code Red,’ cooking competitions on ‘Kitchen Champion,’ or Bollywood films featuring actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai, and Katrina Kaif, DesiPlay TV provides a diverse range of content.
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.
