GECs
SPNI’s Rohit Gupta on The Venice TV Festival jury
NEW DELHI: A tribute to innovation and international recognition for quality creative and media content, The Venice TV Festival has announced Sony Pictures Network India president Rohit Gupta as a part of its extensive international jury for the upcoming festival scheduled in September.
The 26-member jury also includes EGTA Sweden president Malin Hager, Fox Networks Group Latin America VP creative services Andre Takeda, UFA fiction producer Nataly Kudiabor, ITV Studios Netherlands head of development and sales Remco Lentjes, Fashion TV art director Barbara Aparo, Former Screenwriter RAI McCann Worldgroup Management Board Milka Pogliani.
The awards will be announced under 15 categories including Best TV Series, Best TV Film, Documentary, Cross-Platform Programming, Performing Arts, New Talent (Director), among others.
Earlier, Indian shows Nickelodeon-India’s Nickelodeon Mom & Brat Ident and Viacom18’s Bigg Boss have won the honours in Program Promotion and Cross-Platforms categories, respectively at the international festival.
The last date to submit entries is 14 August 2020.
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.
