GECs
Media maven Uday Shankar to speak at AAAI’s Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture 2019
MUMBAI: The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) are pleased to announce the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture which will see The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific president, and Star and Disney India chairman Uday Shankar on Monday, 11 November 2019 at 7 pm at The Great Room, Four Seasons, Worli, Mumbai.
Shankar will speak on “Why have I been in media for 30 years” and walk us through his journey in the media and entertainment industry over the past three decades.
AAAI president Ashish Bhasin says, “We are very happy that Uday Shankar will be delivering the AAAI Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture 2019. As a captain of the industry, Uday perhaps has the best visibility to all the facets of the broadcast and OTT industry and we look forward to hearing his views. I must also compliment Sam Balsara on behalf of the AAAI for driving this initiative with great gusto”.
Says Sam Balsara, on behalf of SGF, “In a rapidly changing advertising world, TV continues to dominate ADEX and grow at a double-digit rate. It will be interesting to hear Uday Shankar’s views on how the TV Industry has carved out a dominant share for itself in the advertising market and plays a very major role in the lives of the majority of Indians, through the absorbing stories, that it puts out every day, 24 X 7.”
All members of advertising, marketing, media and digital community are welcome. However, entry is only by invitation. Please send an email to Sudesh Kapoor at AAAI on his email id aaai@aaai.in to receive an invitation.
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.
