GECs
I&B bans AXN for ‘objectionable’ content
NEW DELHI: The government has banned, with immediate effect, the telecast of Sony Entertainment’s action chanel AXN for two months for showing “obscene programmes”.
The information and broadcasting ministry today issued directions for blocking signals of the channel into India up to 15 March.
Sources told Indiantelevision.com that the ministry had taken objection to the channel repeatedly telecasting such programmes such as World’s Sexiest Commercials that “are against good taste or decency and are likely to adversely affect public morality”.
The government has been issuing warnings from time to time to various channels to desist from telecasting “obscene programmes” and software not suitable for women and children.
The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 clearly stipulates that the government has the right to block or take action against channels which violate the broadcasting and advertising codes of the country.
Multi-system operators (MSOs) like Hathway Cable & Datacom have blacked out AXN. Incablenet is in the process of switching off the channel, a senior executive in the company said.
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.
