GECs
Lagardere, Vivendi strike pay- TV deal
MUMBAI: French media group Lagardere agreed to pay $624 million to Vivendi and transfer its 34% stake in CanalSat to get a 20% stake of Canal+ France.
The swapping of Lagardere’s stake in CanalSat, will see Canal’s French pay-television channels as well as its satellite platforms under a single ownership.
Lagardere is joining Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 in the merged Canal+ France venture, taking a 20-percent stake with an option to increase that stake to 34 percent in three years.
“The new group will be a leader in French broadcasting, able to take on competition from large foreign media groups as well as cable and internet operators. It will reinvigorate and broaden the French pay-TV market, offering consumers a more rich, diversified and attractive product,” the companies said in a statement.
This draft agreement is subject to approval by the Conseil Superieur de l’Audiovisuel and antitrust authorities. The deal is expected to close by the third quarter.
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.
