GECs
UTV acquires post production, recording studio
MUMBAI: Software production company UTV has acquired a post production and sound recording studio Western Outdoor Advertising.
The company will be merged with UTV’s United Studio division and will be called USL-WOA. This represents the first acquisition in the post production segment in the Indian media sector.
Reports indicate that Western Outdoor’s assets amount to Rs 250 million while USL-WOA’s will be worth around Rs 600 million. The combine is expected to garner 60 per cent of Mumbai’s business which translates into one billion rupees. UTV’s promoter Ronnie Screwvala has been quoted as saying that the initiative aims at providing superior service in the form of creative solutions to customers.
UTV is looking at expanding its business in the area of 3D animation for television content, creating special effects for films and sound recording.
The company is also looking to grow its international revenues in the fields of animation and dubbing. As part of the deal, Western Outdoor will get one per cent stake in UTV. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp holds a 15 per cent stake in UTV.
Another report in The Economic Times indicates that UTV is also looking to spread its wings by launching four films in the year 2002-2003. One of them stars Val Kilmer last seen in The Salton Sea’ and the budget is estimated at 10 million dollars. The period love story set in India is a co-production with LA based Madira Films. Also in the pipeline is a Shah Rukh Khan film being produced in association with SRK Films, expected to be completed within 15 months. UTV is also said to be planning a solo Bollywood venture which will be directed by Samir Karnik who cut his teeth in the ad film world.
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.
