GECs
Viacom18-SPN merger deal likely to happen by mid-August: reports
MUMBAI: A merger of Sony Pictures Networks and Viacom18 Media is likely to be formally announced by mid-August, according to a Hindustan Times’ report.
The leading daily also mentioned that the merged entity is expected to start operations only by the end of 2021.
Viacom18 is a 51:49 joint venture between Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)-owned Network18 and US-based Viacom Inc.
The merger has been in the process for almost a year and a half and it will see Sony take a majority stake of 74 per cent in Viacom while the latter will own the remaining 26 per cent.
The above said deal is aimed at providing RIL a greater control over the entertainment industry. It will eventually help it maintain the content pipeline for distribution on its cable service provider DEN and Hathway. Also, it will help its broadband and Internet service JioFiber.
“It gives a lot more muscle to Reliance as a distribution-oriented company with this dedicated content pipeline behind them,” mentioned Hindustan Times based on a source.
The proposed merger with Viacom18 will help Sony to expand its footprint in the overall entertainment sector. Because apart from its Hindi general entertainment channel, Viacom18 has regional language and children channels as well where Sony is lacking.
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.
