GECs
Wrestlemania 21 is a PPV blockbuster for WWE
MUMBAI: Wrestling fans tuned into record numbers on television to watch Batista defeat Triple H to become the heavyweight chyampion.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has said that its preliminary estimate of Pay-Per-View (PPV) buys for WrestleMania 21 is more than 940,000.
This exceeds the same-time PPV buys for last year’s WrestleMania XX by more than 14 percent. Final PPV tallies may exceed one million buys for the second year in a row once all information is provided to WWE by distributors and affiliates over the next several months. In India WWE action airs on Ten Sports.
WrestleMania 21 which took place last month was seen by fans in more than 90 countries, and was broadcast to US troops around the world. More than 20,000 fans from 48 states and 14 countries converged on the sold-out Staples Center in Los Angeles to witness all the action at WWE’s annual pop culture extravaganza, setting attendance and ticket sales records.
WWE EVP marketing Kurt Schneider said, “We will maintain the incredible momentum we have built over the past 21 years by producing exceptional PPVs month in and month out.” The next PPV on WWE’s calendar is Backlash. Hulk Hogan returns to the ring for the last time.
Hulk Hogan will team up with Shawn Michaels to face Mohammed Hassan and Daivari. The main event pits current World Heavyweight Champion Batista against Triple H.
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.
