GECs
Reliance brings with it the zest to win, says Sudhanshu Vats
MUMBAI: On 29 May 2014, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) had announced that it would spend Rs 4,000 crore to take complete control of Network18, the company which Raghav Bahl founded in 1993.
The takeover labeled as the biggest takeovers in India’s media industry, followed the announcement with an open offer to the public.
Since then, not much has been spoken about the management changes, cultural changes in the companies or the working.
So, when indiantelevision.com met Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats, we couldn’t help but ask.
Answering the obvious question of has there been any management changes post the takeover of Network 18 by Reliance, Vats says, “No, there have been no changes at Viacom18. The same management team continues to drive Viacom18.”
Vats goes on to add that Reliance is a very large and successful company. It believes in scale and has strong leading position in all the business segments in which it operates. “The good news from our point of view is that we now have two industry giants – Reliance and Viacom as partners. Reliance brings with it scale, resources and the zest to win. Those are good traits for us to gain new heights in the media sector,” he emphasises
For the record, Network18 owns news TV channels (including CNBC-TV18, CNN-IBN, CNBC Awaaz etc), websites (firstpost.com, moneycontrol.com), magazines (including the license for Forbes India), entertainment channels (including Colors, MTV and Homeshop18) among other businesses. And Viacom18 founded in November 2007 is a 50:50 joint venture operation in India between Viacom and the Network 18’s subsidiary TV18, based in Mumbai.
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.
