GECs
Zee signs on Megamagic for distribution in Pakistan
Zee Telefilms has appointed Mega Magic, a group company of the WorldCall Telecommunications Group, to provide legal distribution of Zee TV to be broadcast in Pakistan.
Mega Magic was appointed the sole distributor and seller of decoders and cards for the Zee TV after it went pay from 10 June.
A senior company official confirmed the decoders would cost 19,000 Pakistani rupees and the charges per house connection would be Rs 24 for a seven-channel package (Zee TV, Zee English, Zee Music, Zee MGM, Zee Cinema, Zee News and UTN – set to become Alpha Urdu).
Queried as to how the cable industry was organised in Pakistan, the official said the problems broadcasters faced were very similar to those in India. The industry is unregulated, disorganised and underdeclaration of subscribers is rampant, the official said.
There were also plans for a separate channel at some stage dedicated to Pakistan which would involve the development of local programming content, but this was still in the ideas stage, the official said.
Zee television currently offers a package of 14 channels which are marketed internationally and covers Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Australia.
ALPHA GUJARATI, ALPHA BANGLA EXIT AUSTRALIA: Zee’s Alpha Gujarati and Alpha Bangla have gone off air in Australia, probably due to poor response from subscribers. The two channels have been replaced by Zee group channel Asianet Bharati (soon to become Alpha Tamil), the official said. In Australia, Asianet Bharati is distributed through Prakasham Tamil TV Service of the Tamil Media Group.
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.
