GECs
Sumangali in talks to acquire RPG Netcom
MUMBAI: Sumangali Cable Vision is on the prowl. The Chennai-based multi system operator (MSO) is in talks to acquire RPG Netcom, a move which coincides with Sun Network’s plans to launch a Bengali channel ‘Surjo’ this April.
Sources say RPG Netcom, the dominant MSO in Kolkata, has given the mandate to Ernst & Young to find a buyer. The buzz is that Deloitte is carrying out the due diligence on behalf of Sun Network.
Neither companies were willing to talk about the negotiations. When contacted, Vittal Sampadakumaram of Sumangali Cable Vision declined to comment. RPG Netcom CEO Amit Nag also said he was not in a position to comment on the issue.
RPG Netcom has been trying to find an equity partner for the last few years. The negotiations with Star India broke down after the government passed legislation on the conditional access system (CAS). Star’s argument was that CAS would require huge capital infusion while there was no estimate on the cash earnings that would come into RPG Netcom.
RPG’s disadvantage is that it has very few direct points and, like the other MSOs, has little control over its last mile operators. Besides, the scope to offer value-added services in West Bengal is limited.
So why is Sun Network’s Sumangali Cable Vision showing interest? Analysts believe the acquisition of RPG Netcom will provide Sumangali an entry strategy while Surjo channel will get distribution support.
The talks were initiated over a month ago and RPG Netcom officials went to Chennai for discussions. Sumangali officials, according to a source, have also visited the RPG Netcom office for further talks.
Sun Network is planning to move out of its traditional southern bastion to reach out to a pan national market. Kalanidhi Maran has already announced plans to launch a Hindi channel in 2006. So it would be logical to expect Sumangali to make a similar march outside the south into other markets after it has breached “Bangla land”.
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.
