Danish Khan & Neeraj Vyas’ roles to elevate ahead of Sony-Zee merger

Sony Pictures Networks India is set to revamp its management team ahead of the merger with Zee Entertainment Enterprises.

Danish Khan, who currently heads flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television as well as digital business, in addition to network channel licensing operations, will focus on SonyLIV and StudioNEXT, the content creation arm from Sony Pictures Networks. Neeraj Vyas, who leads Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX Movie Cluster, will lead Sony Entertainment Television from June 1.

Danish Khan, who currently heads flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television as well as digital business, in addition to network channel licensing operations, will focus on SonyLIV and StudioNEXT, the content creation arm from Sony Pictures Networks. Neeraj Vyas, who leads Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX Movie Cluster, will lead Sony Entertainment Television from June 1.

Senior company executives, seeking anonymity, said the announcement is likely on Monday. There is also speculation that Khan may oversee the entire OTT business of the merged entity, which includes SonyLIV and ZEE5.

Khan, with nearly 18 years at Sony over two stints, returned as SET’s business leader in 2015 and took over SonyLIV in 2019. SonyLIV has since become one of the fastest growing OTT services. faster in terms of audience and subscriptions.

NP Singh, Managing Director and Managing Director of Sony Pictures Networks India, had touted Sony as the only media company to have a profitable digital operation. Last year, he said SonyLIV’s paid subscriber base grew from 700,000 at the start of 2020 to over 18 million, with 6.9 million direct subscribers and an average annual revenue per user of ₹573.

Vyas, a 27-year Sony veteran who started as a sales director, managed the cinema chain’s business before taking over Sony SAB in 2017. The chain, which is home to the popular comedy Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmahas recently undergone a transformation.

Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the consumer-facing entity of Sony Pictures and an indirect subsidiary of Sony Group Corp operates 26 linear television channels in India. In 2021, Sony and ZEE agreed to merge, with the goal of forming one of the largest entertainment networks in the country. However, although the merger has been cleared by stock exchanges and the Competition Commission of India, it has yet to gain clearance from the National Company Law Tribunal.

Culver Max Entertainment will own a 50.86% stake in the merged entity, ZEE promoters will own 3.99%, and ZEE public shareholders will own the remaining 45.15%. Live Mint