Sony Pictures Networks India

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd.
FoundedSeptember 30 1995; 25 years ago (September 30 1995)
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Key people
NP Singh (MD and CEO)
Nitin Nadkarni (CFO)
Ashok Nambissan (General Counsel)
OwnerSony
Number of employees
1200+
WebsiteSony Pictures Networks India Website

Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt Ltd. is an Indian indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It has a subsidiary, MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited and an affiliate, Bangla Entertainment Private Limited in India.[1]

SPN manages and operates 26 television channels, 1 OTT platform, 1 film production arm and 1 independent production venture for original content and IPs for TV and digital media.[2]

History[]

It was founded in September 30 1995 as Multi Screen Media Limited. In November 2015, the company was renamed as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN).[3]

Sports[]

Main article: Sony Pictures Sports Network

The network forayed into the Indian sports TV market in 2002 after acquiring the licence rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) matches from 2003 to 2007,[4] which were broadcast on SET and Sony MAX.[5] In 2008, along with Singapore-based World Sport Group, it won the broadcast rights for the IPL for 10 years.[6] In April 2012, it launched it first sports channel Sony SIX.[7] In August 2016, it acquired the Ten Sports network from Zee Entertainment Enterp..[8]

General entertainment[]

In the widespread entertainment category, Sony Entertainment Television (SET)[9] and Sony SAB[10] are the network's premier channels. Offering content from SET and Sony SAB is Sony Pal,[11] a channel targeted towards rural Hindi-speaking markets. Sony YAY![12] is a kids’ entertainment channel that airs several shows in regional languages.

The network also has a joint venture with BBC Earth to showcase non-fictional programming via Sony BBC Earth.[13] Sony Aath is a premium Bangla entertainment channel centered on showcasing series, films, animated shows and sports events produced or dubbed in Bengali.[citation needed] Sony Marathi is a Marathi channel aimed at the Maharashtra audience.

Owned channels[]

On air channel[]

Channel Launched Language Category SD/HD availability Notes
Sony Entertainment Television 1995 Hindi General Entertainment SD+HD
Sony SAB 1999 Formerly SAB TV
Sony Pal 2014 SD
Sony Max 1999 Movies SD+HD
Sony Max 2 2014 SD
Sony Wah 2016
Sony Yay 2017 English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam Kids SD Replaced Animax
Sony BBC Earth 2017 English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu Infotainment SD+HD Co-owned by BBC Studios
Sony Pix 2006 English Movies SD+HD
Sony Six 2012 Sports
Sony Ten 1 2002 Formerly Ten Sports
Sony Ten 2 2010 Formerly Ten Action
Sony Ten 3 2010 Hindi Formerly Ten Cricket
Sony Ten 4 2021 Tamil, Telugu
Sony Aath 2009 Bengali General Entertainment SD Formerly Channel 8
Sony Marathi 2018 Marathi HD version coming soon

Defunct channels[]

Channel Language Category SD/HD availability Notes
AXN English General Entertainment SD+HD
Sony Kix English, Hindi Sports SD rebranded as Sony ESPN
Sony ESPN English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam SD+HD Co-owned by ESPN Inc.
Sony Ten Golf HD English, Hindi HD Formerly Ten Golf HD
Animax English Kids SD replaced by Sony Yay
Sony Le Plex HD English Movies HD
Sony Mix Hindi Music SD
Sony Rox HD HD

Over The Top (OTT)[]

Main article: SonyLIV

In January 2013, the network forayed into video-on-demand with the launch of its OTT platform, SonyLIV.[14] Its library consists of content from the network's channels in India such as SET and Sony SAB, alongside originals such as, Gullak,[15] LIV Shout Out[16] and Holycross.[17] Apart from archival and regional content, movie premieres, short films and LIVE sports are also a part of SonyLIV’s offerings.

The platform has crossed 109 million app downloads and is available in five languages, along with select programming in Bengali, Hindi, English, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.[18]

Movies[]

Sony Max[19] and Sony Max 2[20] offer Hindi cinema to viewers. Sony MAX showcases world premieres, while Sony MAX HD focuses to Indian viewers who prefer a high definition viewing experience. Sony MAX 2 caters to viewers who appreciate evergreen Indian cinema.

Alongside these, the network offers Sony Pix[21] basing its programming on Hollywood films and Sony WAH,[22] which is a file transfer agent movie channel.

Sony Pictures Networks Productions[]

Set up in 2013, Sony Pictures Networks Productions (SPNP)[23] is the film production arm of the network. It produces cinema for Indian diaspora audiences worldwide. Since 2015, SPNP has produced and distributed films such as Darr @ the Mall, Youngistaan, Piku, Chalk n Duster, Azhar, Mubarakan, Poster Boys, Padman, 102 Not Out, Soorma, Bombairiya, Ghoomketu.[24] and Shakuntala Devi, 'The upcoming films from SPNP include Nikamma, Aankh Micholi, Helmet, Unfair & Lovely, Looop Lapeta and Dial 100 among others.

Studio NEXT[]

An independent business unit of SPN, Studio NEXT creates original content and IPs for television and digital media within India and globally.[25] The venture began its journey by producing the debutant season of Kus Bani Koshur Karorpaet, the Kashmiri adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? but like other vernacular Indian adaptations, structured more in line with Indian flagship, national adaptation in Kaun Banega Crorepati.[a] Going forward, Studio NEXT will continue to produce new IPs whilst leveraging the existing ones under Sony Entertainment ownership.

Corporate Social Responsibility[]

'Ek India Happywala' is the call-to-action under which the network guides its contribution towards society. To create change in society, it focuses on 3 impact areas - Environment, Education and Empowerment.[29]

The network associates itself with several NGOs such as Krida Vikas Sanstha,[30] Cricket Association for the Blind of Maharashtra (CABM)[31] and ConnectEd Technologies to name a few, and undertakes initiatives such as providing clean drinking water to drought-affected areas in Maharashtra[29] and supporting upcoming Indian athletes with equipment and training required to compete at international events among a few.

International presence and distribution reach[]

SPN reaches out to over 700M viewers across India and is available in 167 countries.[1]

See also[]

  • Sony India
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment
    • Sony Pictures Television
  • Sony Group Corporation

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ Although season 10 of KBC was reported to be co-produced with the legacy, pre-existing production company BIG Synergy by at least 2 sources,[26][27] the contract-documents from the company noted only the latter [as the producing-entity],[28] as has been the case for preceding seasons. Nevertheless, it remained uncredited on-screen. Thereby, making Kus Bani Koshur Karorpaet their first-ever credited project.
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sony Pictures Networks India Enters Into a Licensing Agreement With The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd". www.businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Sony Pictures Networks: Life after IPL". www.fortuneindia.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Multi Screen Media (MSM) is now Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Sony bags World Cup TV rights". Times of India. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Sony to air ICC Champion's Trophy on MAX and SET, no plans for sports channel". exchange4media. 4 April 2002. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Sony and World Sports Group bag IPL television rights". ESPNCricinfo. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Coming from Sony: Sports channel named Six". Business Standard. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Sony Pictures Networks India to Acquire Ten Sports for $385 Million". Hollywood Reporter. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  9. ^ "SET India - Indian Television, Hindi Serials, TV Shows & Live Reality Soaps| Entertainment Channel". www.setindia.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  10. ^ "SAB TV". www.sabtv.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Sony Pal Information".
  12. ^ "Sony YAY! turns 2 - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  13. ^ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "It is official! Sony BBC Earth launches in India - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  14. ^ "SonyLIV launches video-on-demand service".
  15. ^ "SonyLIV launches new Hindi original webisode series, Gullak - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  16. ^ "SonyLIV brings its first ever unscripted original, LIV Shout Out with Aditya Narayan". MediaNews4U. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  17. ^ Rajesh, Author: Srividya (24 January 2019). "Tarun Gahlot in Holy Cross, Vikram Bhatt's web-series for SonyLIV". IWMBuzz. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  18. ^ V, NARAYANAN. "SonyLIV enters Tamil digital content space". @businessline. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  19. ^ "SONY MAX - Deewana bana de". www.sonymax.tv. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Sony MAX2". www.sonymax2.tv. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Sony PIX". www.sonypix.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  22. ^ "SONY WAH". www.sonywah.tv. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  23. ^ "SPN Productions". www.spnproductions.in. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Sony Pictures Networks Productions unveils two new releases for 2018". TelevisionPost: Latest News, India’s Television, Cable, DTH, TRAI. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  25. ^ Laghate, Gaurav (28 August 2018). "Sony Pictures launches separate content unit". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Sony's production house Studio Nxt to co-produce KBC 10". INDIANtelevision.com. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  27. ^ Saini, Sonam (29 August 2018). "SET signs 8 sponsors for KBC 10, 65% inventory sold before launch". exhange4media. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  28. ^ Such as this one.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sony Pictures Networks India Takes a Step Towards Change - Provides over 20,00,000 litres of Potable Water to Villages in Maharashtra". Indian Television Dot Com. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  30. ^ "The SPN National Inclusion Cup 2019 a CSR Initiative of Sony Pictures Networks India". www.businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Sony Pictures Networks associates with the Cricket Association for the Blind of Maharashtra for the state level cricket tournament". www.sonypicturesnetworks.com. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
Retrieved from ""