Sony Pictures Networks
Sony Pictures Entertainment's television network division in India.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sony Pictures Networks is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment in India, operating multiple television channels across genres such as entertainment, movies, and sports, and is one of India's major broadcasters.
History
Sony's Indian television operation was established on 30 September 1995 as Sony Entertainment Television India Private Limited. Sony Entertainment Television became its first channel and provided the foundation for a Hindi-language entertainment network aimed at India's rapidly expanding multichannel television market. In 1999, the company introduced Sony Max, a Hindi movie and sports service that broadened the business beyond general entertainment. Expansion continued through acquisitions and new channel launches. In 2005, SET India acquired SAB TV from Sri Adhikari Brothers and later relaunched it as Sony SAB. The channel became a significant Hindi comedy and family-entertainment outlet. Sony Pix, an English-language movie channel, was launched in 2006. The legal entity changed its name to Multi Screen Media Private Limited in December 2007 and to Sony Pictures Networks India in December 2015, reflecting a closer association with Sony's global television and film operations. Sports developed into a major strategic pillar. The company acquired International Cricket Council match rights covering the 2002–2007 period, with matches shown through SET and Sony Max. In 2008, it won a ten-year Indian Premier League broadcast-rights arrangement in partnership with Singapore-based World Sport Group. Sony Six was launched in April 2012 as a dedicated sports channel. In August 2016, the company acquired Zee Entertainment Enterprises' Ten Sports networks for a reported price of US$385 million. The acquired services were rebranded under Sony TEN in 2017 and combined with the existing Sony Six and Sony ESPN sports businesses. The company entered streaming in January 2013 with SonyLIV. The platform combined programming from Sony's Indian television channels with films, archival material, regional content, originals, short films, movie premieres and live sports. This gave the business a direct-to-consumer distribution channel as viewing habits shifted from scheduled television toward on-demand and mobile consumption. The wider content operation also includes Studio NEXT, which develops original television and digital formats, and a joint venture with BBC Earth for factual programming. In 2022, the legal holding company adopted the name Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. The operating network continued to be marketed as Sony Pictures Networks, so the name change did not amount to a wholesale consumer-brand replacement. In October of that year, most Sony network brands in India received a coordinated visual refresh associated with Diwali and aligned with Sony's newer international S-curve logo system. The most consequential recent corporate development was the proposed merger with Zee Entertainment Enterprises. Announced in principle in September 2021 and formalized in December 2021, the transaction was designed to combine television networks, production businesses, digital assets and program libraries. Sony was expected to hold 51 percent of the combined company, while Zee chief executive Punit Goenka was designated to lead it. The Competition Commission of India approved the transaction in 2022, and the National Company Law Tribunal approved it in August 2023. Regulatory proceedings involving Goenka and delays to closing complicated the timetable. After the agreed deadline passed without completion, Sony terminated the transaction on 22 January 2024. Culver Max remains a Sony-owned Indian media business with television, streaming, sports and production activities.
- 2024
Proposed Zee merger is terminated
[1]Sony ends the proposed combination with Zee Entertainment after the agreed completion conditions were not met.
- 2022
Culver Max name adopted
[1]The holding company changes its legal name to Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
- 2016
Ten Sports networks are acquired
[1]Sony acquires Zee's Ten Sports network portfolio for a reported US$385 million.
- 2015
Corporate name changes to Sony Pictures Networks India
[1]Multi Screen Media adopts the Sony Pictures Networks India name.
- 2013
SonyLIV launches
[1]The network enters online video distribution with its SonyLIV streaming platform.
- 2012
Sony Six launches
[1]The company introduces a dedicated sports channel.
- 2007
Corporate name changes to Multi Screen Media
[1]SET India Private Limited adopts the Multi Screen Media Private Limited name.
- 2006
Sony Pix launches
[1]The company launches an English-language movie channel.
- 2005
SAB TV is acquired and rebranded
[1]SET India acquires SAB TV and later operates it as Sony SAB.
- 1999
Sony Max launches
[1]The company adds a Hindi movie and sports channel to its television portfolio.
Products and positioning
A Sony-owned Indian entertainment and media network combining mass-market television, premium and library film programming, sports broadcasting, streaming video and locally produced content.
Hindi general-entertainment television · 1995
Sony Entertainment Television
The network's original flagship channel, launched in 1995. It provides Hindi-language general entertainment, including scripted serials, reality formats, talent programming and other mass-market television content.
Hindi general-entertainment television · 2005
Sony SAB
Originally SAB TV, the channel entered Sony's portfolio through the 2005 acquisition of Sri Adhikari Brothers' service. It is associated particularly with Hindi comedy, light entertainment and family-oriented programming.
Hindi movies and sports · 1999
Sony MAX
Launched in 1999, Sony MAX is a Hindi-language movie service that also became an important outlet for sports coverage. The wider MAX family includes services oriented toward premieres, high-definition viewing and library Hindi cinema.
English-language movies · 2006
Sony PIX
An English-language movie channel launched in 2006, offering Hollywood-oriented film programming within the company's Indian television portfolio.
Sports television · 2012
Sony Sports Network
The sports portfolio grew from cricket-rights acquisitions and the launch of Sony Six. Following the Ten Sports acquisition, the services were organized around brands including Sony TEN and related Sony sports channels.
OTT streaming · 2013
SonyLIV
Launched in 2013, SonyLIV distributes television programming, originals, films, regional and archival content, short films, premieres and live sports through on-demand and digital streaming services.
Television and digital production
Studio NEXT
An internal production and development unit that creates original intellectual property for television and digital distribution in India and potentially international markets.
Marketing campaigns
- Ek India Happywala
India
The company's corporate-social-responsibility platform organizes its social-impact work around environment, education and empowerment, including partnerships with nongovernmental and community organizations.
Outcome. Reported activities include support for clean drinking water in drought-affected areas and assistance for developing Indian athletes.
Brand decisions
2022
Adopt the Culver Max legal nameStrategyBackground
The company maintained a public-facing network identity associated with Sony while reorganizing the legal naming of its Indian holding company.
Action taken
Sony Pictures Networks India changed its corporate name to Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.; the operating businesses continued using Sony Pictures Networks and Sony-branded channel names.
Aftermath
Culver Max became the legal corporate identity, while Sony Pictures Networks remained the principal consumer-facing operating identity.
2021
Propose a merger with Zee EntertainmentM&ABackground
Sony and Zee sought to combine television networks, production operations, digital assets and program libraries in response to competition across Indian entertainment and streaming.
Action taken
The parties announced an agreement under which Sony would hold 51 percent of the proposed combined company and Punit Goenka would lead it.
Aftermath
The transaction received regulatory and tribunal approvals but encountered delays and was terminated by Sony in January 2024 after the closing conditions were not completed by the deadline.
2016
Acquire the Ten Sports networksM&ABackground
Sony sought to expand its Indian sports-media footprint beyond cricket and its existing Sony Six and Sony ESPN services.
Action taken
Sony acquired Zee Entertainment Enterprises' Ten Sports network portfolio for a reported US$385 million and later rebranded the services under Sony TEN.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened Sony's sports-channel portfolio and enabled integration of the acquired services with its existing sports properties.
Reported acquisition price. US$385 million (2016)
Recent events
Sony Pictures Networks India signs LPL broadcast agreement[2]
Sony Pictures Networks India signed an agreement with the IPG Group covering television and digital transmission of the Lanka Premier League, returning as a broadcast partner for the league's second edition.
Zee announces merger with Sony Pictures Networks[3]
Reported:
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited announced a merger with Sony Pictures Networks. Sony is to invest $1.57 billion and hold a 52.93% controlling stake in the merged entity, while ZEEL shareholders will hold 47.07%.
Facebook and Sony Pictures Networks India begin cricket content partnership[4]
Reported:
Facebook entered into a digital content partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India for India’s tour of Australia, with match content to be shown on Facebook Watch.
Sony Pictures Networks India pledges Rs 100 million for daily wage workers[5]
Reported:
Sony Pictures Networks India said it would contribute Rs 100 million to support daily wage workers in the media and entertainment industry in response to the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.
Sony Pictures Networks India appoints chief information officer[6]
Reported:
Sony Pictures Networks India appointed Raj Mohan Srinivasan as chief information officer for the network.
Sources6 sources
- 1Sony Pictures Networksen.wikipedia.org
- 2Sony Pictures Networks India 签署 Lanka Premier League 转播协议afaqs.com
- 3Zee 宣布与 Sony Pictures Networks 合并nagpurtoday.in
- 4Facebook与Sony Pictures Networks India展开板球内容合作financialexpress.com
- 5Sony Pictures Networks India承诺提供1亿卢比支持日薪工人indiantelevision.com
- 6Sony Pictures Networks India任命首席信息官indiantelevision.com
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