Sony Pictures Networks | |
Formerly |
|
Company type | Subsidiary |
Founded | September 30, 1995 |
Headquarters | , India |
Area served | Indian subcontinent |
Key people |
|
Parent | Sony Pictures Television |
Website | sonypicturesnetworks |
Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., trading as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN or SPNI), is an Indian media conglomerate owned by Sony Pictures Television.
SPN manages and operates 26 television channels, the streaming media platform SonyLIV, as well as the television studio Studio NEXT and film studio Sony Pictures International Productions. [1]
It was founded on September 18, 1995 (not 1957) [2] as Sony Entertainment Television India Private Limited (SET India Pvt Ltd.). [3] [4] The first channel from the company was Sony Entertainment Television.
In 1999, SET India Pvt Ltd., launched its second channel Sony Max [5] which broadcast Hindi movies and sports events along with Sony Entertainment Television. In 2005, SET India Network bought SAB TV from Sri Adhikari Brothers and rebranded as Sony SAB. [6] In 2006 SET India launched the English movie channel Sony Pix.
In December 2007, SET India Private Limited was renamed as Multi Screen Media Private Limited. [7]
In December 2015, the company was renamed as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN). [8] [9]
On 24 October 2022, nearly all of Sony's networks underwent a rebranding coinciding with Diwali, replacing the cropped "S" logo used by SET since its launch with the S-curve logo template used by Sony's television networks worldwide since 2019, and first used locally by SonyLIV. [10] [11]
On 22 September 2021, Zee Entertainment Enterprises announced that it had reached an agreement in principle to merge its television networks, production operations, digital assets, and program libraries with SPN; the combined company would be majority-owned by Sony, and led by Zee CEO Punit Goenka. [12] [13] On 21 December 2021, the two companies reached a definitive agreement to merge; it was stated that the combined company "should be well-positioned to meet the growing consumer demand for premium content across entertainment touchpoints and platform[s]." [14] Under the agreement, Sony will hold a 51% stake in the combined company, and inherit Zee's public listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange. [15] The companies set a two-year deadline of 21 December 2023 to complete the merger, with a one-month grace period ending 20 January 2024. [16]
In 2022, SPN changed its corporate name to Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.; the name is used exclusively by the holding company, which continues to otherwise do business as Sony Pictures Networks. [17] In October 2022, the merger was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI); it was reported that Zee had voluntarily agreed to divest or shut down one general entertainment channel as a condition of the approval. [17]
In June 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) prohibited Goenka from holding directorial positions in any listed company for one year, amid an investigation into allegations of insider trading; the action was considered to be a potential impediment to the closure of the merger, as he was expected to lead the combined company [18] [19] [20] On 10 August 2023, the merger was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). [15] In September 2023, Sony stated that the merger would be delayed for unspecified reasons. [21] In November 2023, the SEBI lifted its ban on Goenka after an appeal. [18]
On 9 January 2024, amid rumors that Sony was seeking to call off the merger, Zee issued a statement that it was still committed to completing the agreement, and called the reports "baseless". [16] However, on 22 January, 2024, Sony issued a notice to Zee effectively terminating the merger proceedings due to, among other reasons, the closing conditions to the merger not being satisfied by the given deadline of 21 January. [22]
The network forayed into the Indian sports TV market in 2002 after acquiring the media rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) matches from 2002 to 2007, [23] which were broadcast on SET and Sony MAX. [24] In 2008, along with Singapore-based World Sport Group, it won the broadcast rights for the IPL for 10 years. [25] In April 2012, it launched its first sports channel Sony Six. [26] In August 2016, SPN acquired the Ten Sports networks from Zee Entertainment Enterprises for $385 million, with the networks rebranded in 2017 under the "Sony TEN" brand, and integrated with Sony Six and Sony ESPN. [27] [28] [29]
In the widespread entertainment category, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) [30] and Sony SAB [31] are the network's premier channels. Offering content from SET and Sony SAB is Sony Pal, [32] a channel targeted towards rural Hindi-speaking markets. Sony YAY! [33] 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. [34] 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.
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 Kal | 2022 | Available in USA & Canada only | |||
Sony Max | 1999 | Movies | SD+HD | ||
Sony Max 2 | 2014 | SD | |||
Sony Wah | 2016 | ||||
Sony Sports Ten 3 | 2010 | Sports | SD+HD | Formerly Sony Ten 3 | |
Sony Pix | 2006 | English | Movies | ||
Sony Sports Ten 1 | 2002 | Sports | Formerly Sony Ten 1 | ||
Sony Sports Ten 2 | 2006 | Formerly Sony Ten 2 | |||
Sony Sports Ten 5 | 2012 | Formerly Sony Six | |||
Sony YAY! | 2017 | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Gujarati | Kids | SD | Formerly Animax |
Sony BBC Earth | 2017 | English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu | Infotainment | SD+HD | Joint venture by BBC Studios |
Sony Sports Ten 4 | 2021 | Tamil, Telugu | Sports | Formerly Sony Ten 4 | |
Sony Aath | 2009 | Bengali | General Entertainment | Formerly Channel 8 | |
Sony Marathi | 2018 | Marathi | SD | ||
Sony Tamil | 29th April 2024 | Tamil | SD |
Channel | Launched | Defunct | Language | Category | SD/HD availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sony Mix | 2011 | 2020 | Hindi | Music | SD | Rebranded as Sony Room News Network |
Sony Rox HD | 2017 | 2018 | HD | |||
Sony Ten 3 | 2016 | 2022 | Sports | SD+HD | Rebranded as Sony Sports TEN 3 | |
Ten Cricket | 2010 | 2016 | Rebranded as Sony Ten 3 | |||
Ten Action | English | Rebranded as Sony Ten 2 | ||||
AXN | 1999 | 2020 | General Entertainment | |||
Sony Le Plex HD | 2016 | 2018 | Movies | HD | ||
Animax | 2004 | 2017 | Kids | SD | Replaced by Sony Yay | |
Sony Ten 1 | 2002 | 2022 | Sports | SD+HD | Rebranded as Sony Sports TEN 1 | |
Sony Ten 2 | 2016 | Rebranded as Sony Sports TEN 2 | ||||
Sony Six | 2012 | Rebranded as Sony Sports TEN 5 | ||||
Sony Kix | 2015 | 2016 | English, Hindi | SD | Rebranded as Sony ESPN | |
Sony ESPN | 2016 | 2020 | English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam | SD+HD | Joint venture by ESPN Inc. | |
Sony Ten Golf HD | 2015 | 2018 | English, Hindi | HD | Formerly Ten Golf HD | |
Sony Ten 4 | 2021 | 2022 | Tamil, Telugu | SD+HD | Rebranded as Sony Sports TEN 4 |
In January 2013, the network forayed into video-on-demand with the launch of its OTT platform, SonyLIV. [35] Its library consists of content from the network's channels in India such as SET and Sony SAB, alongside originals such as, Gullak, [36] LIV Shout Out [37] and Holycross. [38] 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.
Sony Max [39] and Sony Max 2 [40] 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 [41] basing its programming on Hollywood films and Sony WAH, [42] which was a Free To Air movie channel but recently switched back as a paid channel.
Set up in 2013, Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP) [43] is the film production arm of the network. It produces cinema for Indian diaspora audiences worldwide. Since 2015, SPIP [44] has produced and distributed films such as
The upcoming films from SPIP include Amaran , Shaktimaan , Kaash Aisa Hota, Advait, Dive and among others.
An independent business unit of SPNI, Studio NEXT creates original content and IPs for television and digital media within India and globally. [45] 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 . [lower-alpha 1] Going forward, Studio NEXT will continue to produce new IPs whilst leveraging the existing ones under Sony Entertainment ownership.
'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. [49]
The network associates itself with several NGOs such as Krida Vikas Sanstha, [50] Cricket Association for the Blind of Maharashtra (CABM) [51] and ConnectEd Technologies to name a few, and undertakes initiatives such as providing clean drinking water to drought-affected areas in Maharashtra [49] and supporting upcoming Indian athletes with equipment and training required to compete at international events among a few.
SPNI reaches out to over 700M viewers across India and is available in 167 countries. [52]
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Zee TV is an Indian Hindi language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was launched on 1 October 1992, as the oldest privately owned Television channel in India. The defunct and unsuccessful Asia Television Network started earlier.
Sony Sports Network, formerly known as Sony Pictures Sports Network and also known as Sony TEN, is a group of Indian pay television sports channels owned by Culver Max Entertainment.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) is an Indian media conglomerate. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has interests in television, print, internet, film, and businesses related to mobile content, and operates 45 channels worldwide.
Balaji Telefilms is an Indian company that produces Indian soap operas in several Indian languages. Balaji Telefilms also owns Alt Balaji, the platform known for producing adult rated content. Balaji Telefilms also produces reality TV, comedy, game shows, entertainment, and factual programming. Balaji Telefilms is promoted by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor and is a public company listed at Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India.
Sony Entertainment Television is an Indian Hindi-language general entertainment pay television channel that was launched in 1995 and is owned by Culver Max Entertainment, a division of Sony Pictures.
Zee Kannada is an Indian Kannada pay television general entertainment channel that was launched in the year 2006 and owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is also being as the first mainstream satellite channel in Kannada.
Zee Telugu is an Indian Telugu-language general entertainment pay television channel in India. It was launched on 12 September 2004 as Alpha TV Telugu. and was rebranded as Zee Telugu on 18 May 2005. The channel is owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. Zee Entertainment Enterprises also launched a Telugu movie channel named Zee Cinemalu in September 2016.
Sony SAB is an Indian Hindi-language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Culver Max Entertainment. The channel was launched on 23 April 1999, the channel was formerly known as SAB TV.
Viacom18 Media Private Limited is an Indian media company based in Mumbai, India. Founded in 2007 by the MTV Networks Europe division, it later became a joint venture between TV18 and Viacom in 2014, with TV18 becoming the majority shareholder in the company since April 2023, with Paramount Networks EMEAA and Bodhi Tree Systems owning minority stakes. The company owns and operates various channels, as well as content production studios in India.
Zee Bangla is an Indian Bengali-language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises.
Essel Group, is an Indian multinational conglomerate holding company and corporate promoter headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The company has had business interests in mass media, infrastructure and packaging. It operates the subsidiary of Zee Media Corporation.
Sony YAY! is an Indian pay television channel aimed at children aged between 6 and 14, operated by Culver Max Entertainment. The channel primarily airs international animated series in various Indian languages.
AXN was an Indian pay television channel that was owned by Sony Pictures Networks. Funded through advertising and subscription fees, AXN primarily focused on action genre and reality programming.
SonyLIV is an Indian subscription video-on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Culver Max Entertainment. SonyLIV was introduced in 2013 as the first OTT service in India. As a streaming service, it provides live sports, original titles, other content titles from its own networks and content titles in India licensed from third-parties such as Lionsgate and ITV among others. The Sony Liv content library includes films, TV shows, series, and sports.
Sony ESPN was an Indian pay television sports channel which was a joint venture between ESPN and Sony Pictures Networks. The channel targeted the Indian subcontinent including India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It was part of the Sony Sports Network group.
Animax India was an Indian television channel owned by Sony Pictures Networks India that launched in 2004. The channel primarily aired anime series and films dubbed in Hindi and, for a period, English, as well as with subtitles. It was the only channel in India to simulcast anime series on the same day as Japan. On 18 April 2017, Animax ceased broadcasting in India, with Sony Yay ultimately replacing the network.
ZEE5 is an Indian subscription video on demand and over-the-top streaming service, run by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was launched in India on 14 February 2018 with content in 12 languages. The ZEE5 mobile app is available on Web, Android, iOS, Smart TVs, among other devices. ZEE5 claimed 56 million monthly active users in December 2019.
WWE, an American professional wrestling promotion based in Stamford, Connecticut in the United States has been promoting events in India since 1996 when they were the World Wrestling Federation.
Abhimanyu Raj Singh is an Indian producer, who mainly produces Hindi-language television shows. He is the founder of production company, Contiloe Entertainment, which he co-founded with his brother, Aditya Narain Singh in 1995.