GECs
SAB TV revenue grew nine-fold under Sony umbrella
NEW DELHI: Sab TV, which claims to be the country’s sole channel beaming only comedy series, claims to have grown its revenue nine times since it came under the Sony fold.
When pointed out that another channel being beamed to India from overseas was also showing comedy series, Sony SAB senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor was quick to point out to indiantelevision.com that SAB TV had a TRP of 119 at last count while that channel had only two.
Furthermore, all the series on SAB TV were Indian and not dubbed, he added. He said the channel broadcast seven comedy series every evening during the prime time from 7.00 pm and 11.00 pm.
Kapoor was speaking to indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of a press meet to introduce the new comedy series ‘Khatmal-e-Ishque’ slated for telecast from 13 December, Monday to Friday at 10:00 pm.
Marketing head C M Mehra added that the new series was being publicised through print, radio, social media, and channels within the Sony network and other news and music channels.
As the marketing of this series was part of the overall marketing of all series on SAB, Mehra said, it was difficult to reveal any figure. Furthermore, he said that the marketing would also depend on how the series was received. At present, Sony has had press meets only in Ahmedabad and Delhi, and there is no plan for any more press meet but there may be one later in Mumbai.
Content head Devika Shivdasani told indiantelevision.com that the series comprised different love stories and not just one that would go on, endlessly.
When pointed out that another series on the channel had also experimented with different stories under the same title, she said those were real stories sent in by viewers but the new series has fictional stories.
The show highlights how people can fall in love when they least expect it, the importance of patience and determination, and how one learns life’s lessons while in love. The experience becomes even more interesting as the stories depict how the journey of life takes unprecedented comical twists in the quest for love.
Khatmal-E-Ishque is a compilation of short love stories, designed to extend to 15 to 20 episodes. The stories are such that they involve various instances where viewers can connect to their real-life situations. Each love story is a testament to how love conquers all, and shows the audience how to deal with various complications in their love lives.
One such story, the first in the series, is about Kapildev Dinkar (Vishal Malhotra), a traffic cop in Mumbai, and Lovina DeMello (Umang Jain), a physiotherapist from Goa, who fall head-over-heels in love with each other. The story will witness their struggle to convince their families to let them be together for the rest of their lives.
Apart from Malhotra and Jain, the first story will feature actors — Sulbha Arya, Sharat Saxena, and Akhilendra Mishra, among others.
Well-known television producer Ashwni Dhir of ‘Chidiyaghar’ and ‘Lapataganj’ fame has once again joined hands with Sony SAB to produce the series.
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.
