GECs
Sony buying Sab TV brand for $ 13 million
MUMBAI: In a bid to expand its reach in the Hindi entertainment space Sony has entered into a deal to acquire Sab TV for $ 13 million (approximately Rs 570 million).
The deal with television content provider Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Limited (SABTNL) will see SET Satellite (Singapore) Pte Ltd acquiring the SAB TV brand as well as 1305 hours of library content (representing 20 per cent of SAB TV’s library).
In addition SABTNL will enter into a programme deal with Sony to supply content worth Rs 750 million that runs for five years. SABTNL states that the deal will have no impact on its equity pattern as well as the management structure. Assets like land, machinery, building, equipment will remain with SABTNL.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, SET India COO NP Singh told indiantelevision.com that Sony had done a pick and choose as regards the programming properties it had acquired from the Adhikaris.
All the titles that had been taken up were in the comedy genre, notable among them being celebrated shows like Office, Office and Yes Boss.
SABTNL has announced that the funds generated from the deal will go towards creating and upgrading infrastructure like production and post production studios.
The Adhikari brothers are, however, not exiting the channel business. On the anvil are plans to launch current affairs and news channel “Janmat” and Marathi entertainment channel “Mi Marathi”. The company has announced that the two channels will be up and running by May. SABTNL will be supplying content to both channels.
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.
