MxMIndia

Tag: Sony Entertainment Television

  • The channels: Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB, Sony MAX and Sony MAX 2

    Dentsu Creative bags mandate for 4 Sony channels

    By Our Staff

    Dentsu Creative India has won the digital mandate for Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB, Sony MAX, and Sony MAX 2, and will be responsible for managing the online presence and marketing campaigns of these brands across social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

    The account was awarded to Dentsu Creative India following a multi-agency pitch. The agency will service the channels from its Mumbai office and will work closely with the brand teams to create and execute innovative digital strategies.

    Speaking about this partnership, Vaishali Sharma, Head of Marketing and Communications, Sony Sab, Sony Entertainment Television and Sony Max Movies Cluster said: “As iconic content creators at the forefront of bringing diverse themes to vast audiences, we’re delighted to join hands with Dentsu Creative India to propel our brands towards unprecedented growth and creativity, establishing new benchmarks in the digital entertainment ecosystem.”

    Added Nikhil Kumar, Managing Partner (West), Dentsu Creative India: “We are delighted to partner with Sony Entertainment Network, one of the most respected and admired brands in the entertainment industry. This collaboration is a testament to our digital-first mindset and our ability to deliver integrated and seamless solutions backed by tech and data. It’s a further testament to the quality of teams who mounted this pitch & their ability to come together to address the brand challenges at play. Truly a proud feeling for all of us & we are looking forward to scaling this partnership to even greater heights.”

  • Joins hands with Swastik Productions

    Sony brings viewers ‘Shrimad Ramayan’ from Jan 1

    By Our Staff

     

    Visual of Shrimad RamayanIt’s not the first that mega-epic Ramayan is being aired on television. Various versions – in costume drama and animation – have been seen. But everytime a new avatar is set to launch, there’s much excitement. Why, everytime even a re-run is aired, there is excitement. Remember the lockdown when Doordarshan played a masterstroke by airing a rerun?

     

    Well, this time, it’s Sony Entertainment Television that’s bringing to its screens (and streaming service Sony Liv) an all-new version of Ramayan. Called Shrimad Ramayan. Starting Monday, January 1, at the 9pm primetime slot.

     

    Sony Entertainment Television has signed on Swastik Productions, a seasoned player with big bang mythologicals/historicals whose founder Siddharth Kumar Tewary had interestingly started his independent Swastik journey with Sony in 2007 (see interview from 2017).

     

    So who’s playing Lord Ram? Actor Sujay Reu and Sita is Prachi Bansal. Amongst others in the cast: Nikitin Dheer as Ravan and Arav Chowdharry as Dashrath. Notes a communique: “The attention to detail in the costumes, a mega set design, and visual effects will further enhance the viewing experience, transporting the audience to the enchanting world of Ayodhya and Lanka.” Hmmm.

     

    Neeraj Vyas
    Neeraj Vyas

    In a statement, this is what Neeraj Vyas, Business Head – Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Sab, PAL, and Sony Max Movie Cluster said: “This is not just a show… it is our attempt to bring the essence of our rich heritage into the homes of millions and create a shared experience for families across the nation. The learnings of this distinctive epic are relevant even today and resonate across generations, emphasizing the importance of family values and the significance of relationships. As we embark on this divine journey with Swastik Productions, we are committed to crafting an authentic and immersive experience for the viewers.”

     

    Siddharth Kumar Tewary
    Siddharth Kumar Tewary

    Added Tewary:  “Bringing one of the biggest epics to life is not just a creative endeavour but a profound responsibility. The launch of ‘Shrimad Ramayan’ signifies a commitment to quality storytelling with meticulous research and seamless execution. I am delighted to partner with Sony Entertainment Television and together, we look forward to the retelling of this timeless narrative that resonates deeply with viewers, fostering a renewed connection with our cultural heritage and values. I am thankful to amazing talent which is helping me create this – the star cast and the production crew which is working tirelessly on this mega project.”

     

  • Host Amitabh Bachchan stars in a Sonal Dabral-directed promo for the show's 15th edition

    Badal gaya hai KBC ka ad & positioning

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Entertainment Television has launched a promo campaign of the 15th edition of Kaun Banega Crorepati directed by senior adperson Sonal Dabral.

     

    Said Neeraj Vyas, Business Head – Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Sab, Pa,, and Sony Max Movie Cluster: “Kaun Banega Crorepati is a legacy brand, and in tune with the changing times – its 15th edition will embrace the transformation that we are all experiencing in this new India. A flagship show for Sony Entertainment Television, KBC will soon return in an all-new exciting avatar, the elements of which will be unveiled in the coming weeks, and it is sure to capture the imagination of the entire nation. This season will also welcome new opportunities for brands to drive innovation and build engagement with audiences across the spectrum. The recently launched campaign film sets the tone for KBC, ek naye roop mein and the fan favourite format, helmed by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, will continue to foster cohesive family viewing.”

     

    Posted Dabral on his Facebook post: “Had a great time directing this year’s KBC promo! Working with Bachchan Sir is always an inspiring and learning experience.  Huge thanks to Neeraj Sir, Vaishali and the teams at Sony Entertainment Television for an amazing experience!  Great working together again and writing this with you Anshu Arthjam”

     

  • Announcing new shows and subsequent seasons

    Sony LIV & Applause strengthen partnership

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony LIV and Applause Entertainment have unveiled their upcoming slate for 2023 strengthening their  partnership. Two new series ‘Kafas’ (Cage) and ’36 Days’ are lined up along with return of other seasonal shows. ‘Kafas’ produced in association with Madiba Entertainment is a social drama series starring Sharman Joshi, Mona Singh, Vivan Bhathena, Preeti Jhangiani and Mikail Gandhi in lead roles and directed by Sahil Sangha.

     

    The second series ‘36 Days’ produced in association with BBC Studios India is a suspense thriller, directed by Vishal Furia, featuring an ensemble cast including Neha Sharma, Purab Kohli, Shruti Seth, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharib Hashmi, Shernaz Patel, Faishal Rashid, Chahat Vig, Kenneth Desai in pivotal roles.

     

    Said Danish Khan, Head – Sony LIV, Sony Entertainment Television and Studio Next:  “We are delighted to strengthen our long running partnership with Applause Entertainment with an exceptional slate of shows in 2023 and beyond.”

     

    Added Sameer Nair, Managing Director, Applause Entertainment: “In our shared mission to captivate and entertain audiences through the power of storytelling we are excited to create for Sony Liv a diverse and captivating mix of new shows and returning favourites.”

     

  • To lead the content division for Sony digital businesses

    SonyLIV appoints Saugata Mukherjee as Head of Content

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Pictures Network (SPN) India has announced appointment of Saugata Mukherjee as Head – Content, SonyLIV. In his new role, Mukherjee will lead the content division for Sony digital businesses. He will report to Danish Khan, Business Head – Sony LIV, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and Studio Next.

     

    Said Mukherjee: “I have witnessed the platform’s growth and proud to be part of its growth story once again.  SonyLIV has always pushed the boundaries of content by telling stories that have never been told, explored, or shown before, making my role, a challenging but exciting one.”

     

  • Collaborates with Endemol Shine India to bring up a new season

    Sony acquires rights to MasterChef India

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Entertainment Television has acquired the rights for the Indian adaptation of the culinary reality show format, ‘MasterChef’ produced and distributed by Endemol Shine India.

     

    Said Sonal Yadav, Head – Programming (Non-Fiction), Sony Entertainment Television (SET): “MasterChef has revolutionised the global foodscape, changing the way cooking is perceived while transforming lives of amateur chefs globally who have a passion for cooking. The Pandemic has seen a swift rise in home chefs who embarked on culinary adventures experimenting and whipping up food recipes. Hence, now is an apt time to bring forth a platform like MasterChef India that puts the spotlight on such aspirants. We are delighted to be collaborating with Endemol Shine India to cook up a flavourful new season that will celebrate India’s diverse gastronomic excellence.”

     

    Added Rishi Negi, CEO – Endemol Shine India: “India has a wide demographic of talented home chefs who can impress and surprise in the kitchen. We at Endemol Shine India are thrilled to partner with Sony Entertainment Television for one of our flagship formats and hope to cook up a delicious new season of MasterChef together. Through MasterChef we hope to tap into their talent and equip them with the best tools and experiences to fulfil their dreams of achieving something extraordinary. The past few years have seen talented home chefs with a passion for cooking burgeoning across the spectrum and this will be a great platform for them to truly hone and test their talents by wowing our judges with their culinary creations. An inclusive format MasterChef is a warm and wonderful celebration of family and cooking so get set for some fantastic new MasterChef moments!”

     

  • The Linus Adventures will assist Promoters and CXOs scale their business and become leader brands

    Post-BARC, it’s Linus and more for Sunil Lulla

    By Our Staff

     

    As CEO Sunil Lulla said his final goodbyes at the BARC India headquarters in Central Mumbai, he was all set to make a switch from an ‘Employee Life’ to a ‘Portfolio Career’.

     

    The entrepreneurial journey includes:

    • The Linus Adventures which will assist Promoters and CXOs scale their business and become leader brands.

    • Being co-founder of a UAE-based EdTech start-up focussed on India and the MENA region

    • An active angel investor in early-stage start-ups across multiple domains.

     

    In addition, he will continue his support to the Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA and hopes to learn a new way of running (known as Maximum Aerobic Function / Low Heart Rate whereby he can breathe smarter to successfully complete many a marathon and staying more refreshed).

     

    An MBA from SP Jain Institute, Lulla has spent long and successful years in advertising, broadcast and digital before he took charge at BARC in October 2019. He spent 11 years in JWT in India, China and Taiwan, three years at HMV (now Saregama), three years at MTV India which he turned around, a year at Diageo, two years at Indya.com, three years at Sony Entertainment and then eight years as CEO and MD of the Times Television Network. Later he spent nearly four years as CMD of Grey Group India before making the switch to Balaji where he was there for a year-and-a-half.

     

    It may be recalled that Lulla had announced his decision to move on from BARC last week. Fellow advertising agency captain Nakul Chopra took charge at the television audience measurement company today (August 25).

     

  • On Sony Entertainment Television of course

    KBC Season 13 to start on Aug 23

    By Our Staff

     

    The 13th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati is to start on August 23 on Sony Entertainment Television. Produced by StudioNext, and hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

     

    Said Ashish Golwalkar, Head – Content, Sony Entertainment Television and Digital Business: “For a show like KBC that has followed a certain creative pattern, it was time for us to break the mold and approach it differently. While digital auditions replaced the regular audition process, it didn’t deter the volume of entries. In fact, the ease of digital audition encouraged a lot more aspirants, based in the remotest areas possible to participate. We are happy with the spiritedness of each contestant, and we are hopeful that they fulfil their KBC journey.  Furthermore, while we did introduce AR (Augmented reality) in the previous seasons, this year, the use of AR is far more superior and immersive. From refurbishing the entire set with the play of lights to the graphical elements and LED panels, India is the only country to host the format with inclusion of such refined technological detailing. With distinct modifications to the game this season, we look forward to a rewarding gameplay and promise an enhanced viewing experience to the audience.”

     

  • As it gears up to embrace SPN Vision 3.0

    Sony Pictures rejigs top deck

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has revamped its organisational structure, making several leadership changes.

     

    Rohit Gupta has transitioned from his role as Chief Revenue Officer – Ad Sales and International Business and taken on the responsibility of being SPN’s Advisor to the Management and the Board. Rajesh Kaul, in addition to his existing role as the Chief Revenue Officer – Distribution and Business Head – Sports, will take on charge of International Sales and will work in-collaboration with the Digital team to expand SPN’s brand presence and reach across the world. Neeraj Arora, currently heading International Sales will now be reporting directly to Rajesh Kaul.

     

    Sandeep Mehrotra has been appointed Head – Ad Sales, Network Channels. Danish Khan, Business Head – Sony Entertainment Television, Digital Business and StudioNext will take additional charge of Network Channels Licensing. Tushar Shah, Business Head, English, Factual Entertainment & Sony AATH, takes on an additional role of the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for SPN. Aditya Mehta, in addition to his current role of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, will spearhead the formation of Data Analytics CoE to strengthen SPN’s approach to being a data driven organisation. Nitin Nadkarni, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) will take additional charge of the Broadcast Operations and Network Engineering (BONE) department. Kingshuk Bhattacharya – Head, B.O.N.E. will now report to Nadkarni.

     

    Said N P Singh, MD & CEO, SPN: “SPN has embarked on Vision 3.0 to create a future-ready organization based on a culture powered by corporate values and a management structure backed by an operating model that accelerates growth. All leadership changes announced today are reflective of that evolutionary intent.”

     

    Added Manu Wadhwa, CHRO at SPN: “The organization remodeling is a result of our constant focus to strengthen our talent and leadership capabilities and will ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic media and entertainment industry.”

     

  • Reality show gears up for first season

    Sony brings Shark Tank to India

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the rights for the Indian adaptation of the globally successful business reality format – Shark Tank, which will be aired on Sony Entertainment Television.

     

    Said Danish Khan, Business Head – Sony Entertainment Television, Digital Business & StudioNEXT: “We are delighted to bring the globally renowned business reality show Shark Tank to India, and this is the perfect time to launch Shark Tank India. Last few years have seen the emergence of an exciting entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. Innovative business ideas, risk taking appetite and a funding infrastructure is getting built – Shark Tank India will further accentuate, encourage and strengthen this outlook by providing a platform for entrepreneurs or aspirants to showcase their ideas directly to the potential investors (Sharks) and make it big.

     

  • To increase investments into India

    Sudesh Iyer picks up stakes in Vistas Media Capital

    By Our Staff

    Sudesh Iyer, former co-founder of Sony Entertainment Television (SET Satellite Pte Ltd Singapore), has picked up a strategic equity stake in Vistas Media Capital (VMC).

    The strategic equity stake in VMC by Iyer creates will see the company increasing its investments into India in the media and entertainment space while it continues to diversify into North America and Middle East. Together, they intend to launch a movie fund which will invest into both receivable financing as well as gap funding of projects. The fund will initially have an India focus and will expand into SouthEast Asia.

    Vistas Media Capital is headquartered in Singapore and led by Abhayanand Singh – NRI Banker turned media entrepreneur and has Raj Nayak, former Viacom 18 COO, on its advisory board.

    Said Singh, Group CEO of Vistas Media Capital: “We are very excited to have Sudesh Iyer as a part of our company as it validates our vision which he has bought into and at the same time he brings in many decades of experience and network in media amongst multiple other winning attributes. His presence on the advisory board and mentorship will surely help the company expedite its growth in this dynamic space.”

    Added Iyer: “I am very excited to join a group of young entrepreneurs who are trying to bridge the gap between creativity and finance. They have a vision which is very well articulated through their recent developments and they are an agile team which is tracking the evolution of the merger of media and technology.”

     

     

  • Its newspaper campaign brought back pre-Partition India for Sony Entertainment Television’s Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye

    OMD ad turns to 1947 nostalgia for new Sony show

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Entertainment Television’s recently launched show, Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye, unveiled an era bringing to life pre-Partition India in 1947. To announce the launch of this show, OMD India executed a print campaign turning back in time to give readers an experience of the era through the look and feel of the newspapers.

    Expressing his views on the campaign, Amit Raisinghani, Head – Business Planning and Communication, Sony Entertainment Television said: “Newspapers were the most preferred medium of communication back in the day. Since the show Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod Aaye is set in 1947 pre-partition India, we felt an innovative print campaign will be the most appropriate way to set the context of the show, on the day of the launch. We have received a positive feedback from the audience and the industry alike and we are confident that we’ve been able to deliver our message impactfully.”

    Added Priti Murthy, CEO, OMD India: “This campaign in partnership with Sony Entertainment Television is nostalgic not only because the show brings back the mood of 1947, but through print media, it has also given us the opportunity to be nostalgic in our media messaging. It’s a pleasure to work on something fresh and innovative, and we are certain that the audience will enjoy it as much as we did.”