GECs
SPTI to launch deal with CJ’s new drama series ‘Hyena’
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has entered into a long-term agreement with one of Korea’s entertainment company, CJ Media Inc., to distribute a selection of its upcoming and future drama series to broadcasters and digital content providers across Asia outside of Japan, China and Korea.
The deal strengthens the partnership between SPTI and the CJ Group which was established last year when SPTI acquired the distribution rights from CJ Entertainment for the two Korean features How to Keep My Love and The Greatest Expectation.
SPTI senior vice president distribution Asia Ross Pollack said, “Korean dramas have enjoyed unprecedented popularity domestically and abroad in recent years and we are thrilled to partner with one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in Korea, CJ Media Inc. As The Asian Hollywood Studio, this deal further enhances our already significant ability to bring our clients the very best product, whether it’s from Hollywood or more close to home in Asia.”
CJ Media executive vice president broadcasting division Won-Pil Shim said, “We are proud to be partnering with SPTI for distribution of CJ Media Inc.’s original drama and made for television movie content. Based on our over 10 years of experience in producing and broadcasting on the Korean television market, we are geared up to create and produce quality original content for not only Korean audiences, but audiences throughout Asia and beyond.”
The first drama to be distributed as part of the deal is Hyena, a 16-episode series following the lives of four playful guys — Chul-Soo (played by Min-Jong Kim), Suk-Jin (played by Sung-Rok Shin), Jin-Bum (played by Man-Seok Oh), and Jin-Sang (played by Da Hoon Yoon) — as they discover that though they may only look for casual relationship, sometimes they find true love.
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.
