GECs
Spiritual channel Ananda to follow Zoom ’12 weeks later’
MUMBAI: The spiritual channel from the Bennett, Coleman stable has been christened Ananda and is expected to launch approximately 12 weeks after lifestyle channel Zoom goes on air.
According to Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited president Arun Arora, Ananda ahould launch around mid-December 2004.
While a business news channel is still ‘far away’, the launch of a music based ‘lighter’ channel from the BCCL stable is being firmed up six months from now, though no name has been finalised for it so far. “We are working on the format for the channel, but it is not being thought of as a Times Music addendum. Even our Planet M stores are not Times Music shops, they are more a destination store for all music companies. The spiritual channel will also be run at an arm’s length from Times Music, while recognising and exploiting the synergies of existing Times products,” says Arora.
The business news channel, which continues to build its team (with NDTV’s Arnab Goswami roped in to head operations and a large chunk of the aborted Videocon channnel’s team also among the recruits) is around nine months away. “We are looking at buying some space in Delhi too, we have shortlisted some 17 properties from which we are trying to finalise some for the channels,” says Arora.
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.
