Sony Pictures Networks India Appoints Gaurav Banerjee as New MD and CEO

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced the appointment of Gaurav Banerjee, the former content chief at Disney+ Hotstar, as its new Managing Director and CEO. Banerjee will succeed N.P. Singh is stepping down after 25 years in senior leadership roles at Sony’s Indian division. Banerjee’s appointment is set to take effect on or before August 26, pending regulatory approvals.

Ravi Ahuja, Chairman of Global Television Studios and President & COO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, praised N.P. Singh’s leadership for shaping SPNI into a powerhouse and expressed confidence in Banerjee’s ability to continue driving SPNI’s success. Ahuja highlighted Banerjee’s proven track record and visionary approach, anticipating an exciting new chapter of growth and achievement for SPNI under his leadership.

Banerjee is one of India’s most experienced content executives. At Disney+ Hotstar, he was Head of Content for Hindi Entertainment & Disney+ Hotstar, as well as Business Head for Star Bharat, overseeing Hindi & English Movies, Kids & Infotainment, and Regional (East) content. His tenure saw the commissioning of successful series like “Aarya,” “Special Ops,” “Criminal Justice,” “The Freelancer,” and “The Night Manager,” which propelled Disney+ Hotstar to the top of India’s streaming services. Banerjee’s career began at Aaj Tak as an assistant producer and anchor, followed by producing and anchoring primetime news shows at Star News.

Banerjee’s departure from Disney+ Hotstar coincides with Disney’s merger of its Indian operations with Reliance Industries, the parent company of JioCinema. This merger, if approved by regulators, will see Reliance controlling the operation, with Disney holding a minority stake. The deal is anticipated to close by the end of 2024 or early 2025.

SPNI, known officially as Culver Max Entertainment and part of Japan’s Sony Group, nearly completed a $10 billion merger with Zee Entertainment Enterprises earlier this year but withdrew after failing to meet closing conditions. SPNI operates several channels, including Sony Entertainment Television, Sony MAX, Sony PAL, Sony BBC Earth, Sony AATH, Sony YAY!, and multiple sports channels. It also manages the streaming service Sony LIV and the independent production studio Studio NEXT. The company claims to reach over 700 million viewers in India and operates in 167 countries.

Expressing his honor at the new role, Banerjee acknowledged the tremendous success and innovation achieved under Singh’s leadership. He conveyed his excitement to lead the talented teams at SPNI, aiming to explore new frontiers in original programming, enhance viewer experiences, expand the distribution footprint across India, and significantly boost revenues. Banerjee emphasized the goal of setting new benchmarks in entertainment and delivering exceptional value to audiences and stakeholders.

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