Sony YAY!
Sony YAY! is an Indian pay television channel dedicated to children's entertainment, owned by Culver Max Entertainment and launched on April 18, 2017, as a replacement for the Animax channel.[1][2][3]It targets viewers aged 2 to 14, offering a diverse lineup of animated series, cartoons, and anime to promote fun, learning, and cultural relevance through dubbed and original content.[4]
The channel broadcasts 24 hours a day across multiple platforms, including direct-to-home services, digital cable, and streaming on Sony LIV, making it accessible to a wide audience in India.[5][6] Initially focusing on homegrown Indian animations like Guru Aur Bhole and Sab Kuch Dikhta Hai, Sony YAY! has expanded its programming to include international hits and popular anime series to appeal to evolving viewer preferences.[3][7]
Key offerings feature dubbed versions of global favorites such as Naruto Shippuden and Jujutsu Kaisen, alongside original shows like CID Squad, Honey Bunny, and Chimpoo Simpoo, blending adventure, comedy, and educational elements.[2][8]
In recent years, the channel has shifted to target older children and tweens with more mature anime content, including the 2025 launch of CID Squad to reach audiences up to age 35, while maintaining its core family-friendly ethos.[7][9] Sony YAY! is available in seven languages—Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, and English—to cater to India's linguistic diversity, with identical programming across feeds to ensure consistent entertainment quality.[8]
This multilingual approach, pioneered as the first kids' channel to offer feeds in Marathi, Bangla, and Malayalam, enhances regional engagement and positions it as a leader in inclusive children's media.[8]
Under Culver Max Entertainment (formerly Sony Pictures Networks India), the channel continues to innovate with festive specials, telemovies, and fresh content to foster creativity and joy among young viewers.[10]