Executive Dossier
NBC, Bronfman shortlisted for Vivendi Universal bid
NEW YORK: It has been two months since Vivendi formally invited bids for Vivendi Universal Entertainment. Initially, the company had claimed that the bids came in fast and furious, but now there are just two parties remaining. They are NBC and the Bronfman Group.
Vivendi Universal’s board has decided to continue negotiating with the two of them instead of deciding a winner outright. Reports indicate that NBC has the edge because of its media strength and its parent, General Electric.
However, unlike the Bronfman Group, NBC has not offered cash upfront, of billions of dollars for a debt-burdened Vivendi.
Whichever way the chips fall, Vivendi will have a substantial minority interest in a US media corporation. Putting a spanner in the works is the fact that Vivendi is looking at an initial public offering for the assets as an alternative to a sale.
Vivendi’s wants $14 billion for the assets and that is a figure that left many bidders sore. If the sale were to go through it would result in either one of the world’s largest media companies or one of the world’s biggest private equity funds.
Bronfman’s Group includes Cablevision Systems which is, the main cable TV operator in New York and private equity fund Thomas H Lee Partners.
Vivendi Universal Entertainment’s assets include the Universal movie studios and theme parks, cable channels.
MUMBAI: Game faces on, pressure high India’s gaming ambitions are levelling up. Good Game, billed as the world’s first as-live global gaming reality show, has officially launched in India with a bold mission: to crown the country’s first Global Gaming Superstar.
Blending esports with mainstream entertainment, the show brings together competitive gaming, creativity and on-camera performance in a format that tests more than just joystick skills. Contestants will be judged on gameplay, screen presence and their ability to perform under pressure, reflecting how gaming has evolved from pastime to profession and pop culture currency.
Fronting the show are three high-profile ambassadors: actor and entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant, and gaming creator Ujjwal Chaurasia. The winner will take home Rs 1 crore ($100,000) among the largest prize pools for any Indian reality show along with the chance to represent India on a global stage.
Backed by a planned annual investment of up to Rs 100 crore, Good Game is also courting brand partners, promising a minimum reach of 500 million among India’s core youth audience. The creators position the show as a bridge between entertainment and interactive culture, offering long-format content, community engagement and commercial scale.
Auditions are now open to Indian citizens aged 18 and above, inviting amateur and professional gamers, creators and performers alike. Shortlisted candidates will be called for in-person auditions in Mumbai on 14 and 15 February, and in Delhi on 28 February and 1 March 2026.
With big money, big names and even bigger ambition, Good Game signals a shift in how India views gaming not just as play, but as performance, profession and prime-time spectacle.
