Those headhunting for the next MD and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) have their work cut out. Incumbent NP Singh, who is set to step down after a decade as its MD and CEO, will be leaving behind an act difficult to replicate.
An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics, Singh joined SPNI – then Sony Entertainment Television India or SET India — in 1999 as chief financial officer four years after the network launched its first channel in the country. In 1999, SET India, launched its second channel Sony Max, which broadcast Hindi movies and sporting events, and proved to be a massive success.
Singh was elevated to the position of COO in 2004, a year before SET India Network bought SAB TV from Sri Adhikari Brothers and rebranded it as Sony SAB. In 2006 SET India launched the English movie channel Sony Pix. In December 2007, SET India was renamed Multi Screen Media and it was rebranded once again in December 2015 when the company came to be known in its current avatar of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI).
In his 25 years with the network Singh has catalysed the network’s growth and witnessed the evolution of the media industry in the country. While general entertainment has been its bread and butter, the network forayed into sports in 2002 after acquiring the media rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) matches from 2002 to 2007 that were beamed over SET and Sony Max. Sony also held the broadcast rights for the coveted Indian Premier League for 10 years starting 2008.
Perhaps, the biggest coup for Sony under Singh’s watch was whisking away Kaun Banega Crorepati from Star Plus in its fourth season in 2010.
Many wondered if Singh’s moving has anything to do with the termination of the $10-billion merger agreement with Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The deal had been in the works for more than two years and received necessary regulatory approvals too before ending in a bitter fallout in January 2024 when Sony decided to walk away. Insiders say, Singh’s move had been decided at least three years ago – he was there to oversee a transition, if it were to happen.
It is not easy to be a convergent thinker when your industry is metamorphing fast. Singh made the job look like a walkaway.