GECs
Grey Worldwide India & B4U Multimedia receive FIPB clearance
NEW DELHI: The Indian government has approved Grey Worldwide India and B4U Multimedia International Limiter’s proposals involving foreign investment and changes sought in earlier clearances.
B4U Multimedia proposals envisage transfer of shares from resident to non- resident shareholders against redemption of foreign convertible debentures (FCDs). The foreign direct investment component amounts to Rs. 5.4 million.
The company has submitted to the government that apart from undertaking activities in producing entertainment software, it also dabbles in e-commerce.
The clearances are part of a package okayed by finance minister P Chidambaram based on the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in its meeting held on 27 January, 2005. The total package approved by the FM amounts to Rs. 340 million.
These proposals relate to ministries/departments of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Commerce, Industrial Policy & Promotion, Heavy Industry, Information & Broadcasting, Information Technology, Power, Telecommunications and Economic Affairs. The major investment proposals pertain to sectors like Steel and Trading.
In the case of Grey Worldwide India, active in the field of advertising, publicity, sales promotion, public relations, marketing and mass communications, permission had been sought for a change in the status of an erstwhile overseas corporate body (OCB) to a foreign company, envisaging no inflow or outflow of foreign exchange.
In the absence of detailed information till the time of writing this report, it is not clear whether the case of Grey Worldwide was necessitated after a global takeover of the company by the Sir Martin Sorrell-promoted WPP, one of the world’s leading communications services groups, which through direct and indirect presence works with more than 330 of the Fortune Global 500 companies, over one-half of the NASDAQ 100 and over 30 of the Fortune e-50.
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.
