In a media landscape dominated by endless scrolling and solitary screens, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is placing renewed emphasis on shared viewing. By reimagining game shows and reality television, the Company is transforming formats once seen as traditional into powerful unifiers that bring Indian families across generations back to the living room. As content consumption fragments across platforms, SPNI is prioritising participation-led formats that invite viewers to play, predict, learn, and aspire, helping restore the habit of appointment viewing through collective experiences.
This approach reflects SPNI’s understanding of audiences as selective and value driven. Viewers respond to immediacy, momentum, and a visible sense of progress; qualities that game shows and reality formats deliver naturally. This insight underpins SPNI’s recent adaptation of Wheel of Fortune, the world’s longest-running game show, hosted by Akshay Kumar and designed as a participative family experience. It also aligns with the sustained success of franchises such as Kaun Banega Crorepati, which completed 25 years this year and continues to see strong engagement from the 18-40 age group across metros as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets through its Play Along format.
By blending interactivity with emotion-led formats, SPNI continues to demonstrate the relevance of linear television. SPNI’s focus remains on shared, participative viewing that brings families together around the screen.
Comment:
Makarand Palekar, Head – Linear Distribution, Sony Pictures Networks India:
“The future of linear television depends on creating moments that audiences choose to watch together. When formats evolve while retaining the emotional core, they connect across generations. Interactivity, cultural relevance, and forward momentum are critical to attracting younger viewers while continuing to serve family audiences who have grown up with these shows.”
About Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited (formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India):
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is the consumer-facing identity of Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan.
A leading media and entertainment conglomerate, SPNI comprises 28 Premium Channels in both SD and HD formats, including leading Hindi General Entertainment Television Channels – Sony Entertainment Television; Sony SAB and Sony PAL; Marathi General Entertainment Channel – Sony Marathi; Bangla General Entertainment Channel – Sony AATH; Hindi Movie Channels – Sony MAX, Sony MAX 1, Sony MAX 2 and Sony WAH; renowned destination for sports fans – Sony Sports Network comprising Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 5; Kids Entertainment Channel – Sony YAY!; English Movie Channel – Sony PIX; Factual Entertainment Channel – Sony BBC Earth; Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel in the US and Canada – Sony KAL; Digital entertainment OTT platform – Sony LIV and the independent production venture for original content and IPs for TV and digital media – Studio NEXT. This Network reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in over 150 countries.
Recognised as an employer of choice within and outside the media industry, SPNI is a recipient of several awards, including India’s Best Companies to Work For 2021 by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India, Exemplars of Inclusion in AVTAR & Seramount’s Most Inclusive Companies Index 2024 and listed as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India for eight consecutive years by AVTAR & Seramount. In recognition of the company’s unique workplace culture and exceptional people practices SPNI won the ET Future Skills 2024 for Best Learning Program Supporting Change Transformation Business Strategy, and the TISS LeapVault CLO Awards 2024 for Best Employee Engagement Program and Best Games Based Learning Program.
SPNI is in its 30th year of operations in India. Besides having overseas subsidiaries, it has a subsidiary MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited, and an affiliate, Bangla Entertainment Private Limited in India.
For more information, log onto www.sonypicturesnetworks.com
Media Contacts:
Harsh Kankeshwar: harsh.kankeshwar@setindia.com
Anam Khan: Anam.khan@setindia.com
