GECs
Nat Geo US targets the interactive gaming market
MUMBAI: National Geographic Film Library in the US has signed a licensing deal with Microsoft Game Studios.
Microsoft will be provided with a limited-edition, interactive DVD packed with 70 minutes of animal footage from National Geographic Channels Totally Wild wildlife series.
The DVD is currently packaged with the video game Zoo Tycoon 2 . It features short video segments of wildlife in its natural habitat, accompanied by factoids and trivia questions designed to supplement gamers interest in animal habitat and behaviour.
National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) VP film library Matthew White said, “Zoo Tycoon 2 provides a unique opportunity for us to showcase our award-winning wildlife footage and offer expertise based on our many years in the field researching the wild animals featured in the game. As we move forward in the interactive market, well be looking for similar opportunities to marry our technical, editorial and scientific assets into products and applications that engage and excite individuals to learn more about the world around them.”
In the Zoo Tycoon 2 game players build zoos and adopt animals. It has intuitive controls and fun tutorials that allow participants of all ages to engage in up-close, interactive experiences with their animals. Players can immerse themselves in the zoo experience with new features such as the Zoo Guest mode.
Here players can walk around and enjoy the game from a first-person point of view. Meanwhile Zookeeper mode allows players to interact with their animals as never before. Then there is Photo mode in which players can take pictures of their favorite animals and zoo guests and share them online with friends. A Zoopedia has animal facts.
Microsoft Game Studios publishes and develops games for the Xbox video game system, the Windows operating system and other online platforms.
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.
