GECs
Star India expenses up, profit plunged in FY18
MUMBAI: Star India witnessed a nosedive of 93 per cent in profit at Rs 287 crore during FY18 as compared to Rs 554 crore during FY17. This was apparently due to higher programming costs, which went up from Rs 4,121.6 crore in FY17 to Rs 4,887.3 crore during FY18, according to a report by Economic Times quoting business intelligence platform, Tofler.
As per the financial data accessed by Tofler, the company’s advertising promotional expenses fell 6.8 per cent at Rs 691 crore from Rs 738 crore in the corresponding period. The company saw a rise of 7.8 per cent in employees benefit expenses to Rs 895 crore.
The company’s total expenses grew by 12.2 per cent from Rs 7,992 crore in FY17 to Rs 8,974 crore in FY18. Revenue from operations saw a slight increase of 3.6 per cent to Rs 9,148 crore from Rs 8,827 crore in FY17.
The broadcaster is planning to launch another regional channel to cater to the Bengali audience i.e. Star Sports 1 Bangla on 5 March 2019.
The broadcaster recently released its rate card after amendments on 21 February 2019 and added the channels in several bouquets. The company has now added new sports and English movies channels in existing packages.
The company has also decided to broadcast IPL Season 12 live in eight languages, including Hindi and English, across nearly twenty Star India Network screens. The other languages are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam.
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.
