GECs
(V) ties up with McDowell’s for Enrique Iglesias concert
MUMBAI: This summer Mumbaiites are going to feel sizzling Latino heat in a big way. Pop sensation Enrique Iglesias will perform in the city on 11 April at the MMRDA Grounds in the suburb of Bandra. After that he travels to Bangalore on 13 April.
As with the successful Rolling Stones concert last year, the event is being done by McDowells in association with event management company DNA Networks. The broadcast partner is Channel (V). Iglesias’ three albums have sold nearly a million copies in India. The event, which is part of his Seven World Tour will see him perform a mix of new tracks and favourites like Addicted, Bailamos, Be With You. (V) will air the show a month after the concert has taken place.
Speaking on the occasion last evening, UB Group chairman Dr Vijay Mallya admitted straightaway that somehow the news had been leaked in advance. “sAll day I have been receiving SMS’ from people urging me to confirm the news. People are going to be in a tizzy when the singer comes down. For us, the mega entertainment platform gives us an opportunity to keep the brand contemporary, meet the changing lifestyles of our consumers and also keep up with the emerging trends. Iglesias’ music transcends geographical boundaries and languages. Similarly our brand cuts across different sections of consumers.”
DNA Networks MD T Venkat Vardhan said that around 6000 kilos of equipment would be flown in. “For the first time, an Indian concert will feature three upstage ramps. That is because Enrique loves interacting with the audience. His band comprises ten members and the percussion will be one of the major highlights of his performance. The tickets will be priced at Rs 1200 and Rs 800. A campaign to create awareness about the same will kick off on television and in print from 23 March.”
Channel (V) head honcho Amar Deb added that its request show gets a request for an Iglesias song everyday. ” We will be running a contest whereby winners can get backstage passes for the event. The great thing about Enrique is that he is very much a fun loving outgoing person and it will not take long for fans to get a sense of that. To millions of female devotees the object of devotion is coming. We had earlier partnered with McDowells and DNA Networks for the Bryan Adams concert and that was a fantastic experience for us.”
Pepsi is one of the co-sponsors for the event, which is not surprising. Iglesias is one of its brand ambassadors. In anticipation of the event Universal Music another partner is coming out with a special CD Enrique Iglesias Seven: The Tour Package.
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.
