The Media Room
The Media Room
Podcast Description
Join Vanita Kohli-Khandekar as she takes you through a unique behind the scenes look at the inner workings and machinations of the media and entertainment business. She will speak to experts, film makers, media barons, broadcasters, publishers, platforms, media analysts, and more, to give you insights on the intersection of storytelling, money, technology and communication in this rapidly evolving space.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores various themes including the dynamics of the media industry, the evolution of storytelling, and the impact of technology on communication. Specific episode examples include discussions on the linearisation of streaming services featuring industry analysts, and the resilience of the newspaper industry with insights from a corporate director.
Join Vanita Kohli-Khandekar as she takes you through a unique behind the scenes look at the inner workings and machinations of the media and entertainment business. She will speak to experts, film makers, media barons, broadcasters, publishers, platforms, media analysts, and more, to give you insights on the intersection of storytelling, money, technology and communication in this rapidly evolving space.
Sony India is betting on television, SonyLIV, KBC, streaming and sports to drive its next phase of growth. Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India, explains why he believes Indian TV is far from dead and how Sony plans to compete for audiences across screens.
In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Gaurav Banerjee about Sony India’s television and streaming strategy, the growth of SonyLIV, the future of Indian television and the changing economics of the media and entertainment business.
Banerjee explains how Sony is reinventing some of its biggest entertainment properties. KBC is being reworked for the age of AI, Indian Idol has been adapted for a new generation of musicians, and established franchises such as Crime Patrol are being refreshed for changing audiences.
The conversation also looks at what really works on streaming in India. Banerjee argues that mass entertainment, live sports and strong intellectual property can travel across television, SonyLIV, YouTube and connected TVs rather than existing as separate viewing worlds.
SonyLIV sits at the centre of that strategy. From live cricket and interactive viewing to originals such as Scam, Maharani and Gullak, Sony is looking to expand SonyLIV while retaining its premium positioning and building stronger engagement across digital screens.
Sports is another important part of Sony’s growth strategy. Banerjee discusses the economics of sports broadcasting, cricket rights, the Asia Cup and why sports must generate reach, revenue and profit rather than simply attract large audiences.
The episode also tackles a larger question facing India’s media industry.
Is television really dying?
Banerjee argues that the problem is not television itself but whether broadcasters are creating programmes audiences still want to watch. Sony is consequently increasing investment in Hindi television, regional entertainment and new channels across Tamil, Marathi, Bangla and other Indian markets.
He also discusses Sony’s focus on watch time, viewership growth, advertising, connected TV adoption and why strong content remains the company’s most important growth driver.
Also discussed in this episode
* Sony India’s television and streaming strategy
* SonyLIV growth and the future of OTT in India
* The future of Indian television
* KBC in the age of AI
* Amitabh Bachchan and Kaun Banega Crorepati
* Indian Idol and the changing music industry
* Madhuri Dixit and Marathi KBC
* Ajay Devgn and the reinvention of Crime Patrol
* A R Rahman and Tamil Idol
* Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Celebrity MasterChef
* Sony’s sports broadcasting strategy
* Cricket rights and sports streaming economics
* Connected TV growth in India
* Advertising, viewership and watch time
* Scam, Maharani, Gullak and SonyLIV originals
* Sony’s regional television expansion
* The future of India’s media and entertainment industry
Watch the full conversation with Gaurav Banerjee on The Media Room with Vanita Kohli-Khandekar from The Core.
Chapters
(00:00) – Gaurav Banerjee on Sony’s Next Phase in India
(02:40 – How KBC Is Being Reinvented for the Age of AI
(05:08) – Reimagining Sony’s Fiction and Non-Fiction IP
(10:59) – Why Streaming and Television Are Converging
(15:48) – Sony’s Growth Strategy: Content, Sports and Watch Time
(18:05) – Sony’s Viewership Has Grown 38% in Two Years
(24:24) – SonyLIV’s Strategy: Live Sports, IP and Interactivity
(32:25) – Why Sports Must Drive Reach, Revenue and Profits
(36:35) – Can Television Beat the ‘Sunset Medium’ Narrative?
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