GECs
Viacom will strengthen CBS television unit
From January Viacom will integrate the UPN and CBS Broadcast Networks under CBS Television Unit. CBS Television also includes Viacom’s 34 stations; CBS Entertainment, CBS News, CBS Sports; and the network’s distribution unit, CBS Enterprises.
Viacom is a leading global media company. It’s well-known brands include CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, and c.
Viacom’s president and chief operating officer Mel Karmazin said: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of a process that began with the merger of Viacom and CBS. With sole ownership and key long-term affiliation agreements in place, and with 2001 upfront and season launches that resulted in higher revenues and ratings, there is no better time to bring UPN together with CBS, which is also enjoying one of the best years in its history.”
UPN premiered on 16 January 1995 as a two-night network in 96 markets. Today, UPN broadcasts programming on five nights, with 84 per cent primary coverage. Viacom is looking to cut costs by streamlining and bringing new efficiencies to the broadcast business. At the same time CBS and UPN will continue to be broadcast free, over-the-air .
UPN has managed to assemble a strong and geographically diverse group of affiliates. The company also created a successful lineup with bold programming development and acquisitions. Thus a distinct network identity was built. UPN claims that ratings are up on four out of five nights and the key building blocks for continued success are in place. UPN is confident of building on this strength through the efficiencies and additional resources available under the CBS umbrella.
Through this initiative the CBS Television group believes that it can increase advertising sales while building on its track record of bringing distinctive and successful programming to the screen.
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.
