GECs
Sony slots crime thrillers for 10:30 pm
MUMBAI: If you can’t beat them, try something distinctly different. That seems to be the tack Sony has decided upon as regards the 10:30 pm slot, which is currently in programming limbo land as far as the channel is concerned.
Come December 20 and Sony is all set to launch CID Special Bureau and another crime based thriller in the 10:30 pm band titled Rihaee that will together run from Mondays through to Thursdays. The strategy appears to be, rather than trying to take Hindi entertainment’s queen of soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi on Star Plus head on, offer the viewer something completely different.
Building on the success the channel has received from its stellar show CID, the channel is launching a different series that takes the hit crime thriller to a different level. Called CID Special Bureau, it is slotted on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30 pm starting 20 December .
Wednesdays and Thursdays will see Rihaee another crime based show at 10:30 pm, the launch of this is slotted for 22 December, reliable industry sources have confirmed to indiantelevision.com.
Giving the two shows that extra push will be Sony’s current top rated show Indian Idol. The channel has incorporated 10 minute capsules of Idol throughout the week at 7:55 pm and 10:30 pm. These two shows are expected to benefit from the tune-in’s these capsules generate for the channel.
When contacted for further details, Sony officials, however, refused comment.
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.
