ITV

Category: GECs

  • A tale of intense action and selfless love on Life OK’s Nadaan Parinde

    A tale of intense action and selfless love on Life OK’s Nadaan Parinde

    MUMBAI: It’s a bright sunny day and Sameer as usual is up to some trick or pulling a prank on someone. It seems like a regular day for him and his family that lives at the border but that is far from the truth. He is unaware that he is being watched. Every movement, every step that he takes is being monitored. Someone is keeping a close watch on him. And then, there’s a transformation, something changes. The happy go lucky and the aimless Sameer’s life has turned 360 degree on the axis. Why has Sameer changed? It’s a world of illusion at the border…Life OK, India’s fastest growing General Entertainment Channel launches a first of its kind drama thriller series, Nadaan Parinde that will have viewers on the edge.

     

    Naadan Parinde explores the thrilling and captivating journey of an Indian family living at the border. The story brings alive the reality that nothing is what it seems at the border and for the people living there it is a life full of surprises and challenges. To capture the drama and the essence of the storyline effectively and extensively, Life OK moved its entire show production including the crew and artistes right in the heart of a real village in Punjab. The channel set up an entire new ecosystem in the village across multiple locations for its narrative giving the viewers a chance to enjoy the real mustard fields of Punjab, the dhaabas and the spirit of the people of the village who also lend their support to Life OK to make Nadaan Parinde a reality.

     

    The show will also open up a new slot at 6.30 pm for the channel, thereby extending Life OK’s prime time programming from 6.30pm to 11 pm. With this show the channel is also targeting the prime time slot of 9pm, giving its viewers a double treat.

     

    Sharing his thoughts on the show, Ajit Thakur, General Manager of Life OK says,” Life OK has always been conscious of creating content that breaks the clutter and gives viewers a chance to experience different stories. With Nadaan Parinde we have gone a step ahead in our endeavour by creating an entirely new ecosystem for the show in a small village of Kharar near Punjab,  far away from the comfort and convenience of Mumbai studios. It is a conscious decision that we have taken to give the viewers the feel and look of a real village that is set near the border. With this we are also challenging ourselves as we open up the series with dual timings; a new slot at 6.30 pm and the existing 9:00 pm space.”

    With a gripping narrative, we will surprise the audiences with never seen before thrilling elements and moments. With this we are also challenging ourselves as we open up the series with dual timings; a new slot at 6.30 pm and the existing 9:00 pm space.”

     

    Nadaan Parinde is produced by Imtiaz Punjabi and his company Scaling Heights. A story that will inspire and hold the viewers’ attention with its lead characters; Sameer played by Karan Rajpal as a happy go lucky and affable boy who lives life to the fullest, Meher portrayed by Gulki Joshi who is Sameer’s childhood friend, is progressive in thoughts and wants Sameer to make a mark for himself and Bebe played by Tanushree Kaushal who embodies the love of a mother who is not only protective but also stands by her child even amidst many a dark secrets.

     

    Starting 7th April, Nadaan Parinde will premiere on Life OK every Monday to Friday at 6:30pm and 9:00pm

     

  • Zee TV’s ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ launches on April 15

    Zee TV’s ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ launches on April 15

    MUMBAI: Narrating tales that have captivated audience attention for almost two decades now, the master storyteller Ekta Kapoor is back with a new offering on Zee TV. Her new show ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ launches on 15th April  at 9 PM, this time replacing her own immensely successful show ‘Pavitra Rishta’ on the channel. Based loosely on Jane Austen’s classic ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ is its Indian interpretation, following the life of a Punjabi matriarch Sarla Arora who runs a marriage hall and lives with the hope of seeing her two daughters Pragya and Bulbul who’re poles apart, happily married some day! Known for making shows that are women-centric, the pivotal characters of this new show are a bunch of strong, feisty women, living together in an all-female, matriarchal family.

     

    Sriti Jha plays the character of Pragya, the elder sister, who is practical, hardworking and committed to supporting her family … though she’s barely finished her own studies, she teaches at a college to ensure that her mother Sarla’s (Supriya Shukla) meager earnings from the ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ marriage hall never fall short in making the two ends meet. In the midst of all this pressure on her, she’s forgotten how to unwind or pursue any passions of her own. Mrunal Thakur plays Bulbul, the younger sister who has her head in the clouds. She’s vivacious, smart, stylish and a complete dreamer. It barely occurs to her to snap out her own make-believe, rose-tinted world and be of any real use to her family. She idolizes the ruling heartthrob of the country, Rockstar Abhi. Actor-turned-producer Shabir Ahluwalia, who has shied away from facing the camera since 2012, has been roped in to play Rockstar Abhi with a cult following of his own. Faisal Rashid will be seen as Suresh, the college professor who works closely with Pragya (Sriti Jha). Having led a tough life in the military and lost most of his close ones, he is an embittered soul with much angst and pent-up frustration about life. It remains to be seen how the lives of these two men intertwine with the Arora girls and change their destinies forever!

     

    Talking about introducing a fresh concept on primetime, Zee TV Programming Head – Namit Sharma said, “It takes one epic show to replace another, so you can imagine the faith we have in Kumkum Bhagya, as a property, to replace a show that has been extremely special to Zee for over 4 glorious years. Pavitra Rishta has given Indian television audiences their most sought-after dinner table companions in Manav and Archana – star-crossed lovers that millions of viewers have loved, and idolized. Kumkum Bhagya is another extremely engrossing story from a Punjabi mohalla in Mumbai. It talks of a matriarch and her quest to find ideal grooms for her daughters who’re as different as chalk and cheese. Deriving its core from Sense and Sensibility, Ekta has Indianized it beautifully. It’s a passionate drama of love, a far cry from regular saas-bahu soaps and has an ensemble cast of some very talented actors.”

     

    With ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ slated to air at 9 PM from the date of its launch on Zee TV, ‘Pavitra Rishta’ will now be aired Monday – Friday at 6:30 PM on the channel. Talking about the time shuffle amongst her projects on Zee TV, Ekta says, “While two of my shows (Pavitra Rishta and Jodha Akbar) are already on-air and doing immensely well on Zee TV, it’s a pleasure to extend my partnership with Zee to a third show. ‘Pavitra Rishta’ has had a run of over 4 years now and the journey has been most gratifying for me as a producer. While the audiences who are hooked on to ‘Pavitra Rishta’ will continue to enjoy the show at 6:30 PM, ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ will open at 9 PM, drawing maximum eyeballs. Kumkum Bhagya is so contemporary in its treatment that viewers will be able to instantly spot characters out of their own lives in the show. It’s a story of passionate love that anyone with a soul would be able to easily relate to.”

     

    Speaking of his comeback as an actor, Shabir says, “With me producing shows, it was getting very difficult to manage time for acting assignments. But now, I have decided to concentrate on acting. You can’t be away from what you love doing for long. The role appealed to me a great deal. This is the first time that I will be playing a rockstar on television and in order to look my part, I had to ensure that I did not just get my costume and look right, but also get that attitude right that is required to portray a rockstar onscreen.”

     

    Ekta Kapoor’s association with Zee TV dates back to almost two decades ago when the partnership produced one of the greatest successes of satellite television – Hum Paanch. Her soaps, be it Kasamh Se, Pavitra Rishta or Jodha Akbar – the latest historical to rule the roost on Indian television, have been universally appreciated and have enjoyed long, glorious runs on the tube.  

     

    Starting 15th April, stay tuned to Kumkum Bhagya at 9 PM every Monday-Friday, only on Zee TV!

  • When the stars become one of us!

    When the stars become one of us!

    MUMBAI: Much as we love and admire our film and television celebrities, how would we react if we saw them as one amongst us, leading a life as mundane as ours!

     

    Well that’s something viewers may soon find out for coming to drawing rooms in April is a show that brings together celebrities and commoners even as famous people attempt to live the life of an aam aadmi for a day.

     

    Mission Sapne, produced by Sobo Films and slated to premiere on Colors next month, is rooted in the belief that in order to make a difference, one needs to go out there and understand the trials and tribulations of the common man. The proceeds will go towards helping the cause of the less fortunate.

     

    10 names from showbiz will grace the show in avatars quite unlike their usual selves. Karan Johar will turn photographer at the Gateway of India; Salman Khan a barber; Varun Dhawan a coolie; Siddharth Malhotra a vegetable vendor; Ranbir Kapoor a vada-pav seller; Harbhajan Singh a namkeen seller; Mika Singh a chaiwallah; Ram Kapoor a taxi-wallah; Drashti Dhami a nimbu-mirchi vendor; and Ronit Roy a cosmetic seller. Sonali Bendre will play the host.

     

    Says Colors CEO Raj Nayak: “With everything that our audiences have given us in making Colors a household name, Mission Sapne is our endeavour to give back to the society by bringing the life of a common man to the limelight and sharing his/her story for the world to behold. We thank all the celebrities associated with the show for extending their support and helping us lighten the burden of a tough life from some less fortunate shoulders by raising funds for their welfare.”

     

    Each episode will feature a common man and his problems. His favourite actor/actress will step into his shoes for a day and try to solve his difficulties. For instance, Salman will extend support to Qurban Ali, a barber who lost both his legs in an accident. The money earned will be multiplied and donated to someone in need.

     

    Apparently, Sobo Films had created a similar concept in the Marathi language called Bole to Malamaal. Realising its potential, the producers thought of adapting it into mainstream TV. “We had done this in the regional space before and it was a huge success. We thought we could take this to the Hindi GEC space and see how it worked,” says Sobo Films director, Smruti Shinde. “I think, though it hasn’t been aired yet, it has been very well received by all the celebs,” adds Shinde.

     

    Of the 10 episodes, seven have been shot at locations such as the Gateway of India, Seven Bungalows and Crawford Market in Mumbai while the remaining three have been shot at Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Delhi.

     

    Speaking of the actual shoot that was completed within eight days, Shinde says, “We knew what the show was all about so it did not take us much time to get it on the floor. We just had to format it in the Hindi GEC space and slight alterations were made from the Marathi space. In a month’s time, we had finished planning and shooting for the show.”

     

    Did the celebrities take some convincing to come on-board the show? “There was no difficulty in getting the celebs on-board. When we approached them, they loved the concept and were ready to accommodate the dates. Normally, celebs perform in front of the audience, but in this show, they are one amongst the audience. They actually go on-ground and earn money for the common man,” reveals Shinde.

     

    Ask them and media professionals will call it a PR gimmick on the part of Colors. “What will the channel show for that duration? The success of the show completely depends on the treatment. If they can make it entertaining enough, people will watch it. At the end, a viewer wants entertainment and that is what sells. If they are able to find enough entertainment footage, then it can work wonders for the channel,” opines Helios Media managing director Divya Radhakrishnan.

  • Star Plus presents ‘Ek Hasina Thi’

    Star Plus presents ‘Ek Hasina Thi’

    MUMBAI: Star Plus’ latest offering – Ek Hasina Thi is a story unlike any other on Indian Television. Set in the eastern megapolis of Kolkata, this is not a revenge story but a story of a woman seeking justice for a crime committed in the past. However, her methods of claiming justice are unconventional as she steps out of the shackles of traditionalism and utilizes her Mind to conquer Might!

     
    The fight to deliver justice for an inhuman crime is a universally moving theme. It is also equally true that ‘When all else fails and one is pushed to the brink, one is compelled to take an extreme action’. Ek Hasina Thi tracks the journey of such a woman Durga (played by Sanjeeda Sheikh), who has decided to become an active agent of change to achieve her motive of justice. Durga is not only rich, brave, focused with a heart of gold but is also strong, powerful, calculating and manipulative, using her intelligence to stay a step ahead of her adversaries. She doesn’t mind stepping over the boundaries of ‘right’ and flirt with the dark side, but she always remains within the confines of good, never losing touch with her humanity.

     
    However, Durga’s fight is not easy as facing her are the extremely powerful and influential Goenka family – the main antagonists and the target of Durga’s actions. Vatsal Sheth plays the role of Shaurya Goenka who is the rich, womanizing scion of the Goenka clan. A playboy and brat who is not used to hearing the word NO, Shaurya knows that with his family’s influence, he can get away with anything. Standing by Shaurya through thick and thin are his parents – Sakshi and Rajnath Goenka (essayed by Simone Singh and Ayub Khan), whose financial muscle and stronghold over the city automatically make them both a revered and feared opponent. Durga’s task is further complicated when she faces multiple hurdles as relationships, romance and her own emotional conflicts play a role in making her question her actions.

     
    Talking about the show, Mr. Gaurav Banerjee, General Manager, Star Plus said, “Durga is a very exciting character. Through her, we are celebrating the Empowered Woman – she is primarily a nurturer but if wronged, instead of suffering silently she will fight for justice. We believe our viewers will enjoy the lavish scale of the show, the beautiful outdoors of Kolkata and performances of the ensemble cast.”

     

    Mr. Siddharth Malhotra, Creative Producer, Cinevistaas said, “We are excited to present Ek Hasina Thi, a show we have been developing over three years. Our vision for the show was to elevate it to a completely film like experience. Therefore we haven’t compromised on anything, right from the way the characters are presented to the overall  treatment, action, sound, locations and sequences every aspect has been given a larger than life feel. We have had an amazing relationship with STAR PLUS and are happy to have collaborated once again for Ek Hasina Thi.”

     

    Will Durga be successful in her mission or will she too fall aside like every other person who has stood in the way of the Goenkas? Who will reign supreme in this challenging battle of wits and intellect, where everything seems to be a fair game!

     

    Watch this gripping story of Durga unfold starting April 14th at 8.00 PM on Star Plus!

  • ‘Welcome 2’ back with ‘zaikedar dilli’

    ‘Welcome 2’ back with ‘zaikedar dilli’

    MUMBAI: As things heat up in the national capital with the political parties battling it out for aam admi’s attention, Life OK’s second season of the reality show Welcome 2- Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi is all set to add more spice to the existing drama!

    The ‘desi’ version of the international reality series, Come Dine with Me, will now explore the Delhi cuisine and culture with common man, this time around.

    Unlike the first season which was hosted by actor Ram Kapoor, this one will be sans a host and celebrities. The previous season featured actors hosting dinner at their places and will bring together a bunch of New Delhi-based strangers from different walks of life. They will be seen bonding over food, entertainment and ‘mehmaan nawaazi’ (hospitality) with one specific theme each week.

    Produced by Miditech, the series started from 17 March and is aired every week Monday to Friday at 10:00 pm and will run for eight weeks.

    India Gate Basmati Rice continues to be the presenting sponsor of the show. Moreover, the channel has roped in Pantene 6 Oil Nourish as the powered by sponsor.

    The reason behind having no host this time around is, the makers wanted to focus on the five contestants. “This time we just wanted to focus on the five contestants each week. The show concentrates on Dilwalon Ki Dilli, the melting pot of cultures offered with a dash of masala, drama and entertainment. This season is all about laughter, food, excitement, drama and different personalities,” echoes Miditech co-founder Niret Alva.

    Fifteen episodes have been canned till now. The makers and the channel believe that it is going to be a fun ride. Celebrities are expected to come in but much later. “This time we are keeping this season more on the lines of the international format. Some celebs will definitely join in every now and then to pep up the drama and entertainment quotient, but that will come much later,” reveals Alva.

    Life OK general manager Ajit Thakur expounds: “It is our endeavor to introduce clutter-breaking content and our reality shows are always served with a twist. As five contestants from culturally diverse backgrounds come together, the show moves away from the run of the mill kitchen politics and takes you into the actual kitchen conversations.”

    Alva revealed that selecting the contestants was very tough. “We were looking for the characters from different walks of life. We needed permissions to invade their homes. Apart from this, we also needed the contestants for five days without even telling them what’s going around.”

    In its first season, the show aired from 21 January to 23 March 2013. There were nine groups that involved 45 celebrities, with five celebrities featuring in the show every week.

    While the channel has pinned high hopes on this series, whether they will succeed it or not is a different story altogether. Says a highly placed media planner (name withheld on request): “The channel has been innovating and launching new shows time and again to sustain viewership and maintain numbers. But according to me, they should not try content which has not worked for them in the past. The first season did not work well for the channel and that was the clear indication that audiences are not interested in such content.”

    The media planner further goes on to say that: “To fill the vacant slot, they could have extended the shows which are doing well for the channel like Mahadev and Shapath. This strategy would have got them a few numbers.”

  • BCCC to issue two new advisories to broadcasters?

    BCCC to issue two new advisories to broadcasters?

    MUMBAI: The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), a complaint redressal arm of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), is set to come out with two more advisories for the broadcasting fraternity, if it gets a thumbs up from the board.

     

    The advisories are ready and the board will meet on 27 March to decide on the issue.

     

    The 13 member board, headed by Justice (Retd) Mukul Mudgal, will meet to discuss the advisories. They are related to: depiction of people with disabilities in programmes and wrong depiction of national emblem, national anthem and national flag.

     

    “The advisories have already been framed and needs approval from the council. We are meeting tomorrow to discuss on the issue and if approved, the broadcasters will be issued two advisories pertaining to the matter,” informs BCCC secretary general Ashish Sinha.

     

    The BCCC so far has issued 10 advisories to the broadcasters. These include: Advisory against showing acid attacks on television, advisory on telecast of content sensitive to minorities, advisory on telecast of content on cartoon/ children’s channels, advisory on comedy shows, advisory on sexualisation of children, advisory on health and safety of children, advisory on depiction of animals/wildlife in television programmes, advisory on award functions, advisory on participation of children in TV reality shows and advisory on portrayal of women in TV programmes. 

     

    Apart from this, the board will also discuss the complaints registered against the content of television shows registered for the month.

     

  • Orange TV goes on air

    Orange TV goes on air

    KOLKATA: Viewers in West Bengal will get to see one more Bengali satellite entertainment channel starting today.

     

    Named Orange TV, the new channel will be launched today at 7pm by Kolkata-based production house, T Sarkar Productions. With tie-ups with distributors like SitiCable, KCBPL-GTPL, Manthan, Digicable, AMBC and DEN Networks already in place, Orange TV aims to have a national presence soon and a team of nearly 70 to 75 professionals in the next one year.

     

    “People in West Bengal can see Orange TV from today. We plan to have a national presence sooner,” Orange TV channel coordinator Subhajit Manna told indiantelevision.com. “We started the test signal from 4 March,” he added.

     

    While T Sarkar Productions operates out of Lenin Sarani, the Orange TV studio is located at Tollygunge, better known as Kolkata’s entertainment hub. The channel will cater to the youth by airing a mix of Bengali movies and music and shows related to the Bengali and Hindi film industry. For the next few months, it will air shows at different time slots between 7pm and 10pm.

     

    An anchor-hosted music show titled ‘Orange Ishq’ will be aired at 7pm, followed by ‘Orange Retro’ featuring retro music. For ‘Orange Studio’, the channel has already started getting feeds about the whereabouts of Bollywood from Mumbai-based sources. “The shows will be anchored in Bengali but the music will be in the respective languages,” said Manna. Also in the pipeline are ‘Orange Dhaba’ (cookery show), ‘Orange Blockbuster’ and ‘Orange World Premiere’. The company has produced shows for leading networks including ‘Ei Ghar Ei Sansar’ and ‘Spandan’ for Zee Bangla, ‘Joto Haasi Toto Ranna’ for STAR Jalsha, the ‘Feluda’ series and ‘Arjun’ among others.

     

    According to Manna, Orange TV would be a reflection of contemporary lifestyle and entertainment choices and enjoy a universal appeal among the audience. “The identity of Orange itself is entertainment. Like any other channel that dabbles with fiction, non-fiction, movies and reality shows, we will do that too, with the difference being that we are youth-skewed and more ‘filmi’,” he concluded.

  • Entertainment Hub implementing Sahara One revamp

    Entertainment Hub implementing Sahara One revamp

    MUMBAI: Efforts are being made to revive the almost comatose Hindi GEC Sahara One once again. Around a fortnight ago, indiantelevision.com had reported that a whole bunch of executives had been asked to put in their papers and march from the premises, almost immediately. Entertainment Hub, a unit of the Snip Entertainment Group along with the BSE listed Trilogic Digital Media, was slated to take management and sales control of the ailing channel, along with Sahara Filmy.

     

    Well, what we had written has come to pass. Entertainment Hub is indeed in the driver’s seat at both – Sahara One and Filmy – the channels. Following on the heels of its massive employee shedding programme, it is now focused on rewriting Sahara One’s FPC. Come the first week of April and the viewers of the GEC will get to watch a whole new slate of programmes. Most of the existing shows – the better known ones include Niyati, Jai Bajrangbali and Firangi Bahu – are being shelved. Producers have been told to wrap the storylines by then.   

     

    Driving the change is Trilogic Digital Media director Vishal Gurnani – who refused to speak to indiantelevision.com on the revamp initiative. But sources within the company say that new hires especially with creative expertise are being headhunted. Says a Sahara One source: “There is a management change in terms of the approach to the channel. A completely new dynamic team is going to drive the channel. Plus, our aim with the re-vamp is to widen our distribution. You will see much better distribution across the HSM markets in India.”

     

    The management has its task cut out to achieve that; the network has large outstandings with almost every major MSO and many other smaller ones nationally.  

     

    However, the Sahara One source says that the idea is to get the GEC back to the 50 GRP landmark within the next 12 months, and then to 100 GRPs in 18 months. “We are confident that with this re-launch, we will achieve these numbers,” he exults.

     

    The challenge is indeed tough; but confidence is running high. If it can convert that confidence into fruitful actions, success well might follow.

  • The show this season will be a blockbuster: Raj Nayak

    The show this season will be a blockbuster: Raj Nayak

    MUMBAI: Colors’ adrenaline pumping reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi, is all set to return after a hiatus of nearly two years.

    The fifth season of the show will premiere on 22 March and will be aired every weekend at 9pm. Season five will transport 15 celebrity contestants to the dense forests of South Africa, where they will be seen battling untold odds, performing high-octane stunts and generally overcoming their deepest fears.

    With a tagline that reads ‘Darr Ka Blockbuster’ and stunt maestro-action filmmaker Rohit Shetty as host, Colors hopes to raise the bar even further with the upcoming season of its show.

    The daredevils participating in this edition include Ranvir Shorey, Nikitin Dheer, Mugdha Godse, Dayanand Shetty, Rajniesh Duggal, Rochelle Maria Rao, Gauhar Khan, Kushal Tandon, Gurmeet Choudhary, Debina Bonnerjee, Karanvir Bohra, Teejay Sidhu, Pooja Gor, dancer Salman Khan and Geeta Tandon.

    The channel has roped in Idea Cellular as the presenting sponsor, Gionee smartphone as the powered-by sponsor, and Mahindra & Mahindra, Amul Macho, Adjavis and Bajaj Electricals as associate sponsors.

    Colors officials chose to remain tight-lipped about the financial details of the show. Industry sources reveal that the channel could be charging anywhere close to Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh per 10 seconds of air time on the show.  “Moreover, the channel is spending close to Rs 2.5 crore per episode,” reveals the source.  

    In terms of the total ad revenue, the industry source adds, “Colors may well end up being in the black on this loss leading show as I believe the total revenue from advertising will tot up to about Rs 30 crore-35 crore this season.”  An advertising and promotional war chest of Rs 3 crore-5 crore has been kept aside for marketing Khatron Ke Khiladi. 

    So will season five be bigger than its predecessor? “With every season of Khatron Ke Khiladi, our aim is to raise the entertainment quotient and create edge-of-the-seat content to engage audiences’ week-after-week,” says Colors CEO Raj Nayak. “Be it contestant selection or programming and creative inputs, our teams ensure that viewers get the opportunity to witness the perfect amalgamation of action and entertainment as contestants push their boundaries to face their primal fears.”

    And why was Akshay Kumar replaced with Shetty this time around? “We share a great working relationship with Akshay Kumar, who hosted the last season, and it was a great experience working with him. This season was however about having a stunt visionary, who would not only drive contestants to perform better, but also be the architect of the stunts.  We wanted the host to own the stunts this time around,” reasons Nayak. “Who other than the stunt maestro himself (Shetty) to take on the mantle of hosting an action-packed adrenaline-charged show like Khatron Ke Khiladi?”

    With Shetty as stunt architect, Colors is looking to really push the envelope in that department. “Shetty will bring with him his own style of hosting and mannerisms that will add to the show’s entertainment quotient. Known for creating larger than life action sequences, he has entertained the masses with his films and I have no doubts that the show this season will be a blockbuster,” says Nayak.

    What made Endemol and Colors retain Cape Town, South Africa as the location of the shoot? In an earlier interview with indiantelevision.com, CEO of Endemol India, Deepak Dhar said that the South African team was well-equipped to come up with the kind of high-calibre stunts required this season.  Dhar described it as a ‘really mean season’ with high- level stunts and animals coming on the show as well. He said it would be packed with edgy content and explore some of the most interesting locales of South Africa, be it stunts involving choppers, cars, bikes or even underwater.

    An observer states that both Endemol and Colors would have found it quite difficult to make it as edgy as they did if the filming was to be done in India.

    More on season five:

    Unlike earlier seasons, it will not see partners holding contestants’ hands while performing some of the most challenging tasks. Also, each episode will feature three types of stunts performed by three sets of contestants.

    A 360-degree approach to KK5

    Colors is betting big on season five of Khatron Ke Khiladi. Not surprisingly, the channel has devised a 360-degree marketing and digital campaign to engage with its audience.

    It has designed an overall outreach programme including over 4,500 spots on television, 75 plus editions of key print, over 9,000 radio spots, OOH covering 70 cities, integrations for 17 days across 17 stations of Radio Mirchi, and DTH imprints to grab the attention of its target audience.

    To begin with, distinctive black and yellow hoardings have been placed at various consumer touch points across 70 cities in the country one week prior to the launch, to send out the key message of the show.

    On the cards is an adventure-based mobile game called ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi – The Game’, designed by Gameshastra Solutions, which can be downloaded on iOS and android platforms.

    On Twitter, the show has a dedicated page called @KKKonColors, which currently has over 4,000 followers. The Facebook page has more than 627,000 likes. There’s constant chatter about the contestants, trivia about the shoot and South Africa, bloopers and more to keep social media buzzing about the show.

    Colors has partnered with Radio Mirchi as its exclusive radio partner, who will engage listeners over a period of 17 days through 17 stations across the country. Radio Mirchi will review the show’s blockbuster opening on its premium property ‘Blockbuster Budhwar’ along with small segments during the day called ‘Meri Life Ka Blockbuster’ that will highlight the karnamas of real-life khiladis in the entertainment industry.

  • There is a Government in my TV

    There is a Government in my TV

    From the days of a single Doordarshan channel where one had to watch Krishidarshan and pretend that one is enjoying it, Indian TV has come a long way.  The choice of channels is awesome, sometimes even exhausting. There is music. There are movies. There are soaps. There is news. There is education and there are a host of special interest programmes and channels. TV is no longer just colour. If one is willing to pay for it, it is full HD with Dolby Surround Sound.

     

    Indian Government in general and a succession of Ministers of Information and Broadcasting have played a stellar role in this progress. They have been supported by outstanding bureaucrats – from Secretaries of I&B at the top to Joint Secretaries. They have been friends of the Indian public and accessible to the industry. How much the industry values the caliber and integrity of these people individually is reflected in the fact that a couple of years ago, by popular vote the industry picked Mrs Ambika Soni as the Impact Person of the year.

     

    That said, government actions in the last year or two have raised a question in many minds about the role the Government should be playing in the world of media. Not many will debate that Government has a role to play in setting the policy for media. And that the policy has to cover a number of areas.  Content to the extent it can impact law and order or public’s sense of decency for one.  Foreign investment for another. These two policy areas are relevant to all media. The third are where TV, Internet and probably radio are unique is the pace of technological advancement.  Various components of the industry have to move forward in unison to commercialize technological innovations and make them accessible to all. And to that extent government must be involved in setting these technological standards.

     

    Beyond that, Government’s involvement in issues like adcap and TV audience measurement in truth is hard to justify.  In the courts and tribunals, one can advance arguments referring to clauses of acts to justify these ‘policies’. Examples of anything can be found if one looks at government regulations around the world to support a government’s stand.

     

    But let us pause and look at some of these questions dispassionately, honestly.  What is not so unique about TV that it has advertising. If the government does not prescribe the max percentage of advertising a newspaper can carry or a website can carry, why should it prescribe a limit in the case of TV?

     

    What is not unique about TV is that advertisers want audiences of each media vehicle measured so that they may rationally decide the price they will pay for it. If the government does not prescribe guidelines for print readership measurement or internet engagement measurement, why should it be involved in setting guidelines for TV ratings measurement?

     

    Fewer regulations in important areas of policy and their strong enforcement make for a healthy, economically vibrant society.  Government’s involvement in setting ‘policy’ in dozens of micro-areas makes for a high-cost uncompetitive economy. Perhaps the incoming Government will take heed and pull out of regulating these micro-areas that are best left to the market forces.

     

    (Arvind Sharma, outgoing chairman of Leo Burnett, was the Guest Editor Of the Day at Indiantelevision.com)