GECs
Zee 24 Gantalu seeks justice from court
MUMBAI: Of late Zee 24 Gantalu, the Telugu news channel of ZMCL has been a plethora of cases being filed against it. The latest is that it has decided to finally take a stand and say ‘enough is enough’. The channel has filed a writ petition in the Hyderabad High Court yesterday to seek relief from the FIR lodged against it by DGP V Dinesh Reddy.
A case of ‘spreading communal tension’ has been lodged in the police against it following which two employees (journalists) had been arrested and remanded in custody for two days. They are currently on bail and several other staff members have also taken anticipatory bail including the chief editor K Siva Prasad and the input editor.
The news report that is creating trouble is the one about the DGP (who is to retire soon) going to various babas (godmen) including a Hindu and a Muslim and touching their feet. He claims that the video has been morphed. The other case is where the Muslim baba has accused the channel of calling him a ‘black magician’.
“The words we used were ‘mantra gaadu’ which does not mean black magician but someone who is performing mantras,” says Zee 24 Gantalu editor K Siva Prasad.
The court’s order will come out tomorrow.
Last month another notice was sent to the channel regarding a video telecast on TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao on the repatriation of Seemandhara region’s employees.
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.
