GECs
Star launches 5 Indian, 2 international channels in Japan
MUMBAI: Star is setting its sights on the Land of the Rising Sun. But it is not the Japanese populace but expatriate Indians the News Corp network is principally targeting with the launch there of seven of its channels on new IPTV and community platform “World on Demand” (WoD).
Star today announced it had entered into a deal with Tokyo based The New Media Group (TNMG), which owns and operates WoD, to provide five Indian channels and two international channels in Japan.
On WoD, Star has launched Star Plus, Star One, Star News, Star Utsav and Vijay, along with Sky News and Fox News.
According to an official release, through the launch of WoD (www.worldondemand.net), TNMG will provide popular media offerings to targeted user communities, offering them more choice and the freedom to access what they want to see and the opportunity to interact with other WoD users.
WoD users can watch the Star channels and communicate in real-time with others on the IPTV and community platform.
Commenting on the launch, Star vice president advertising sales and distribution Japan Deane Sadler said, “We are excited to expand our channel offering to viewers in Japan through TNMG’s World on Demand IPTV platform. By partnering with TNMG, East Asian communities in Japan can now enjoy Star’s innovative and record-breaking Indian programming that their fellow countrymen see everyday back home. They can also catch top-rated news programming from the US and the UK on Fox News and Sky News respectively.”
“The right formula is to be multiplatform in delivery, and to be community-oriented in marketing,” said TNMG president Randy McGraw. “By delivering recognized brands to users while offering the best interactive tools and most convenient billing options available, users have both flexibility and a true community platform. At World On Demand, users can watch Star News, for example, and chat or IM their groups in real-time while they watch the latest breaking news from India, or send valuable information back to Star about the award-winning dramas on Star Plus. How powerful is that?”
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.
