Gaurav Banerjee sets audacious goals to rebuild Sony after failed ZEE merger
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. After Sony Pictures Networks India’s $10-billion merger with Zee Entertainment fell apart earlier this year, the network’s new managing director and CEO, Gaurav Banerjee, is rolling out a bold strategy to reset operations. Banerjee, known for his sharp programming instincts, has zeroed in on three priorities—reviving Sony Entertainment Television (SET), ramping up premium live sports, and driving subscriptions on SonyLIV.
Talking to Mint, Banerjee reflected on his first 100 days, describing the period as “exciting and fulfilling." He refrained from assigning himself a scorecard, saying, “Ratings come out every week, so how I’m doing will ultimately be determined by stakeholders—my bosses, employees, viewers, and business partners." Banerjee compared content creation to navigating a river—sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent—where every step must be taken cautiously. “I’m taking my first steps in this river. It’s early days, but we are clear on the direction.
This is about focusing on the process and taking one deliberate step at a time," he said. Sony Entertainment Television, the company’s flagship Hindi general entertainment channel, has seen its ratings slide in recent years. Banerjee called this a top priority, describing SET as “foundational" to Sony’s success.
“When I took charge, people internally felt that SET needed to be fixed. It was a great channel, built on a strong, highly differentiated positioning, but in some ways, over the last few years, it had lost its way," he admitted. Banerjee’s first big test came with Indian Idol, a marquee property reimagined with upgraded production design and rapper Badshah joining the judging panel.
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