Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., trading asSony 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 Networks Productions.[1]
History
It was founded on 30 September 1995[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]
Attempted merger with Zee
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]
SET / Sony MAX were known for animated Tiger sequences during the live TV match events of ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 - 2007 & ICC Champions Trophy 2006, for example Tiger do Bangra dance when batter hits a six. Sony Max referred the animation as the Deewana Tiger (Mascot) for the channel. [25]
The animation was the brainchild of Vivekananda Roy Ghatak & it was created by 2NZAnimation for the Sony Max. [26]
In 2008, along with Singapore-based World Sport Group, it won the broadcast rights for the IPL for 10 years.[27] In April 2012, it launched its first sports channel Sony Six.[28] 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.[29][30][31]
General entertainment
In the widespread entertainment category, Sony Entertainment Television (SET)[32] and Sony SAB[33] are the network's premier channels. Offering content from SET and Sony SAB is Sony Pal,[34] a channel targeted towards rural Hindi-speaking markets. Sony YAY![35] 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.[36]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.
In January 2013, the network forayed into video-on-demand with the launch of its OTT platform, SonyLIV.[37] Its library consists of content from the network's channels in India such as SET and Sony SAB, alongside originals such as, Gullak,[38] LIV Shout Out[39] and Holycross.[40] 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.
Movies
Sony Max[41] and Sony Max 2[42] 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[43] basing its programming on Hollywood films and Sony WAH,[44] which was a Free To Air movie channel but recently switched back as a paid channel.
Sony Pictures Networks Productions
Set up in 2013, Sony Pictures Networks Productions (SPNP)[45] is the film production arm of the network. It produces cinema for Indian diaspora audiences worldwide. Since 2015, SPNP[46] has produced and distributed films such as
The upcoming films from SPNP include Amaran, Shaktimaan, Kaash Aisa Hota, Advait, Dive and among others.
Studio NEXT
An independent business unit of SPNI, Studio NEXT creates original content and IPs for television and digital media within India and globally.[47] 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.[51]
The network associates itself with several NGOs such as Krida Vikas Sanstha,[52] Cricket Association for the Blind of Maharashtra (CABM)[53] and ConnectEd Technologies to name a few, and undertakes initiatives such as providing clean drinking water to drought-affected areas in Maharashtra[51] and supporting upcoming Indian athletes with equipment and training required to compete at international events among a few.
International presence and distribution reach
SPNI reaches out to over 700M viewers across India and is available in 167 countries.[54]
^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,[48][49] the contract-documents from the company noted only the latter [as the producing-entity],[50] 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.
