Danish Khan, Business Head – Sony LIV and Studio NEXT, will be stepping down from his position by March-end. He is transitioning from Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) to pursue new opportunities, an official statement said. Khan has spent over 20 years with the broadcasting company across two stints. “His creative instinct and strategic clarity have helped build enduring media brands over two decades in broadcasting and content. In his current stint, he joined SPNI , ten years ago as Business Head – Sony ...

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is bringing the long-running global game show Wheel of Fortune to India, to be hosted by Akshay Kumar. JioStar has licensed The Fifty, a large-scale reality competition format from Banijay.The push comes as broadcasters and streamers tighten spending while trying to balance scale and monetisation, even as flagship Indian reality franchises become significantly more expensive to produce. This has raised the risks associated with launching untested formats.Both Sony and Ji ...

Core Insights - The creative sector in India is essential for economic growth, job creation, and enhancing soft power, and it should be prioritized similarly to technology investments [1][8] - India's media and entertainment sector is valued at nearly $30 billion, contributing about 0.7% to GDP, and is primarily driven by domestic demand [2][8] - There is a need for innovative growth in the creative sector, as significant advancements have not occurred in the last decade [5][9] Industry Evolution - Three pivotal moments in India's creative evolution include the launch of "Kaun Banega Crorepati," the establishment of the IPL, and the emergence of pan-India storytelling through shows like "Satyamev Jayate" and films like "Baahubali" [3][8] - The Indian Premier League (IPL) serves as a successful model for aggregating human capital and creating a talent pipeline, which is crucial for nurturing authentic storytellers [6][9] Success Stories - The Malayalam film industry exemplifies a thriving creative ecosystem, with films like "Lokah Chapter One" achieving significant commercial success, grossing over 300 crore against a production cost of less than 30 crore [7][9] - Other successful Malayalam films, such as "Aavesham" and "Manjummel Boys," demonstrate the potential of sustained investment and creative freedom [8][9] Recommendations for Growth - To foster the next phase of media growth, India must establish creative institutions and centers of excellence that support talent development and enhance collaboration between academia and industry [8][9] - Urgent action is needed to create an ecosystem that identifies and nurtures innovative storytelling, aiming for global recognition similar to successful international productions [9]