Latest news with #SonyPicturesNetworksIndia
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mukund Acharya joins SPNI as chief technology officer to drive technology-led transformation
Sony Pictures Networks India ( SPNI ) has announced the appointment of Mukund Acharya as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective June 19, 2025. In his new role, Acharya will spearhead the company's consolidated technology portfolio, encompassing the Enterprise Technology Group (ETG), LIV Technology , and Broadcast Operations and Network Engineering (B.O.N.E.). He will be responsible for driving SPNI's digital transformation agenda, fostering innovation and ensuring strategic alignment between business goals and technology initiatives across the network's linear and digital platforms. With over 29 years of experience in leading technology teams and delivering large-scale transformations, Acharya brings deep expertise in platform engineering, scalability, and product innovation. He joins SPNI from Disney+ Hotstar (Now JioStar), where he served as Head of Engineering. During his tenure, he led several mission-critical projects, including the integration of JioCinema and Hotstar apps, and the seamless delivery of marquee events like the ICC World Cups 2023, 2024, and 2025. His prior experience includes senior technology leadership roles at Yahoo, InMobi, and other global organisations. Acharya will report to Gaurav Banerjee, managing director and chief executive officer, SPNI, and will also work closely with the leadership of Sony LIV to support its next phase of platform evolution and growth. Commenting on the appointment, Banerjee said, 'Mukund's proven leadership in technology-led transformation makes him an invaluable addition to our team. As we expand our digital and broadcast capabilities, his role will be critical in aligning our technology roadmap with our vision for growth and innovation.'
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mukund Acharya joins Sony Pictures Networks India as chief technology officer
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed Mukund Acharya as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective today. He joins SPNI from Disney+ Hotstar (now JioHostar), where he was Head of Engineering. In his new role, Acharya will lead the company's consolidated technology portfolio, which includes the Enterprise Technology Group (ETG), LIV Technology, and Broadcast Operations and Network Engineering (B.O.N.E.). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest today with in Shriram's ULIP Shriram Life Insurance Undo He will drive SPNI's digital transformation agenda, champion innovation, and ensure strategic alignment between business goals and technology initiatives across the company's linear and digital platforms. Bringing over 29 years of experience in leading technology teams and executing large-scale transformations, Acharya offers deep expertise in platform engineering, scalability, and product innovation. Live Events During his tenure at JioStar, the merged entity formed after the merger of Star India and Viacom18, he oversaw critical projects, including the integration of the JioCinema and Hotstar apps, and the seamless delivery of major events such as the ICC World Cups in 2023, 2024, and 2025. His previous roles include senior technology leadership positions at Yahoo, InMobi, and other global organisations. Acharya will report to Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO of SPNI, and will also collaborate closely with the leadership team at Sony LIV to support the next phase of the platform's evolution and growth. Commenting on the appointment, Banerjee said, 'Mukund's proven leadership in technology-led transformation makes him an invaluable addition to our team. As we expand our digital and broadcast capabilities , his role will be critical in aligning our technology roadmap with our vision for growth and innovation.'
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tata Play drops Sony channels from packs
Mumbai : Direct-to-home (DTH) operator Tata Play has begun removing Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) channels from its subscriber packs, reviving a standoff with the broadcaster similar to last year's, multiple sources told to one source, SPNI is demanding a 10–15% increase in annual subscription fees from Tata Play—a proposal the latter is resisting amid ongoing challenges such as customer churn and stagnant average revenue per user (ARPU).Tata Play has 18 million subscribers while SPNI has 27 linear TV channels across entertainment and overall lack of subscriber growth is straining the relationship between broadcasters and distribution platforms, putting pressure on their revenues. Another source said Tata Play is reducing subscription pack prices by ₹15–20 for affected customers. Typically, broadcasters and distribution platforms renew content deals annually in April. While SPNI did not respond to ET's queries, Tata Play said the move is part of a routine exercise to optimise packs based on user behaviour. The company noted that customers can choose to reinstate the dropped channels if they wish. Under Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) guidelines, distribution platforms must offer TV channels on an à la carte basis even if those channels are removed from bundled packs. 'Pack downgrading along with corresponding drop in price is an ongoing process at Tata Play, where certain channels are dropped for subscribers displaying frequent deactivation. These subscribers have the option of giving a missed call and reinstating the dropped channel instantly,' a Tata Play spokesperson said. A senior media executive said distribution platforms often resort to tactics such as dropping channels from subscription packages during negotiations. 'Ultimately, both sides are dependent on each other for survival, so a resolution is inevitable,' he added. A senior executive at a distribution platform pointed out that regular price hikes by broadcasters are making linear TV less attractive compared to streaming services, many of which are bundled with mobile data and broadband plans. 'Content cost already accounts for over 50% of a distribution platform's expenses and continues to go up every year even as customer churn is a reality,' said the executive. During the earnings call on May 8, Zee Entertainment deputy CEO Mukund Galgali had stated that the Q4 subscription revenue remained flat Q-o-Q due to a slowdown in the linear subscription, which was partially offset by the increase in digital subscription revenue. This isn't the first time Tata Play has modified its offering in relation to SPNI. In August last year, a similar removal took place, with the company attributing the decision to declining viewership of Sony Entertainment Television (SET), SPNI's flagship Hindi general entertainment channel. After reaching an amicable resolution, SPNI channels were reintroduced across all packs. Broadcasters such as JioStar, Zee Entertainment, and SPNI have recently raised their bouquet rates by over 10%, with JioStar—which emerged from the merger of Star India and Viacom18—implementing an 18% hike. However, distribution platforms say they are unable to pass the full increase on to subscribers due to pricing sensitivity. "The broadcasters are taking the price up a bit. But yes, we are seeing how we can accommodate that and how we can pass very small costs to the customer side. As you know, the market is still sensitive," GTPL Hathway chief strategy officer Piyush Pankaj had said during the Q4 earnings call.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sony Pictures Networks India to launch new movie channel on May 1
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is expanding its presence in the Hindi movie broadcast space with the launch of Sony MAX 1 , a new channel aimed at enhancing the movie experience for linear TV audiences across India. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack The groundwork before India mounts a strike at Pakistan India considers closing airspace to Pakistani carriers amid rising tensions Cold Start: India's answer to Pakistan's nuclear threats Sony MAX 1 joins SPNI's Hindi movie cluster, alongside Sony MAX and Sony MAX 2. Carrying the brand promise, 'Filmon ka aisa chaska, jo dekhe hakka bakka', the channel presents a mix of films curated to engage and entertain. Scheduled to go live on May 1, 2025, across DTH and cable platforms , Sony MAX 1 is set to become a destination for Hindi movie viewers. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cấy ghép răng toàn phần tại Việt Nam – Xem ngay bảng giá 2025! Cấy ghép nha khoa | Tìm kiếm quảng cáo Tìm Ngay Undo Based on the idea that films bring people together, Sony MAX 1 makes selection easier by offering a line-up across genres. From Bollywood titles and regional films to cult favorites and Hindi-dubbed Hollywood releases, the channel provides a viewing experience that combines broad reach with storytelling. Sony MAX 1 seeks to engage every family member, whether they prefer action, drama, or old favorites. It offers a format that mirrors Indian households, where stories are shared and emotions are central. Live Events Tushar Shah, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) & Business Head – Movies, Regional and Infotainment Channels, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), 'With a legacy of building brands and a deep understanding of audience preferences, the launch of Sony MAX 1 is a step forward as we expand our Hindi Movies Cluster. The channel is all set to offer a curated movie-viewing experience on linear television, relevant to today's viewer, rooted in family sensibilities, and designed for delight.'
