With the entire media ecosystem, including all television, cinema shows and films production coming to a halt since March 20th, the M&E industry is grappling with mass unemployment. It has especially impacted the sustenance of the daily wage earners from production crew involving a gamut of people like artists, camera men, spot boys, light boys and their dependent families.
“These unprecedented times have had a cascading impact on the media and entertainment industry, which employs a huge number of daily wage workers. As a conscientious conglomerate, it is our responsibility to direct efforts towards ensuring aid reaches our primary beneficiaries who have contributed to the success of the network,” said NP Singh, MD & CEO, SPN.
The network is reaching out to the daily wage earners identified by their respective trade associations with free coupons, which they and their families can exchange for their daily necessities like food and essential items at select retail stores.
SPN is also working its various commissioned production houses to disburse a month’s salary to each daily wage earner, the company said.
Additionally, the network has also contributed Rs 1 crore to the ‘Swades COVID Fund’, set up by the Swades Foundation. Founded by Zarina and Ronnie Screwvala, the foundation is providing medical equipment and consumables to the authorities of Mumbai, Raigad and Nashik districts. In Mumbai, the foundation is supporting infrastructure, healthcare staff, volunteers and consumables in identified government and private hospitals.
Several channels in the network, including Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB, Sony Pictures Sports Network, Sony Marathi and Sony YAY! have created public service announcements and advertising inventory across SPN is being extensively used to promote public service messaging, the company said.
