Category: Reality

Mumbai: Xiaomi India, the country’s most trusted smartphone X AIoT brand has joined hands with one of India’s most iconic television shows – Kaun Banega Crorepati, which airs on Sony Entertainment Television. Bringing in technology integration that enhances the show’s technology quotient, this collaboration will introduce a new way for contestants to seek the “Video Call a Friend” lifeline. 

In the newest season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the ‘Video Call a Friend’ lifeline will be powered by Xiaomi’s 5G devices including the latest Redmi 12 5G. This lifeline enables contestants to connect with their friends through video calls, helping them make an informed decision during the game. 

Commenting on the partnership, Xiaomi India chief marketing officer Anuj Sharma stated, “Kaun Banega Crorepati has been an integral part of Indian households for years. Like the show, Xiaomi India has been touching millions of hearts in its 9 years of journey in India. Both are rooted in authenticity and dedicated to connecting with the masses. Through this collaboration, we are delighted to introduce a fresh dimension to the ‘Video Call a Friend’ lifeline through our 5G technology.” 

Xiaomi India head- marketing partnership & alliance Prateik Das said, “A robust partnership is the driving force behind a brand’s progress and ingenuity. This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration that resonates deeply with audiences, creating an impact that goes beyond boundaries.”

SET, Sony SAB and Sony MAX movies cluster head – marketing & communications Vaishali Sharma said, “Kaun Banega Crorepati is one of the most loved formats in the reality TV shows segment. Demonstrating the power of knowledge and mirroring the spirit of change in the country, this season will see the introduction of a host of fresh elements that make the gameplay more intriguing. In this updated and upgraded version, the 5G technology of Xiaomi smartphones will play a pivotal role in enhancing the critical ‘Video Call a Friend’ lifeline experience for our contestants.”

Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, has been a cultural phenomenon since its inception, captivating audiences with its blend of knowledge and entertainment. This initiative aligns seamlessly with Xiaomi’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of technology to enhance everyday lives.

Mumbai: Badal raha hai desh, badal raha hai Kaun Banega Crorepati; Sony Entertainment Television brings viewers an updated and upgraded version of this fan-favourite game show in its 15 seasons! Having successfully entertained audiences for an incredible 23 years, the show premieres on 14 August and will air every Monday to Friday at 9 p.m. The perfect amalgamation of knowledge and entertainment, megastar Amitabh Bachchan hosts this reality show with elan and gravitas. With the promise of a #NewBeginning, Kaun Banega Crorepati will capture the essence of the progress that India is making, bringing forth some remarkable changes that will make the gameplay tougher and far more engaging.

Talking about ‘badlav’ in this season, one of the exciting new additions to the show is the introduction of the ‘Super Sandook’, which adds thrill to the game, providing a much-required respite that allows the contestant to revive what has been lost. The second significant change is ‘Desh Ka Sawal’, which will drive more audience participation. Along with Video Call a Friend and Audience Poll, a new lifeline called ‘Double Dip’ has been added to the format and this season also brings back the adrenaline-pumping Fastest Finger First feature. A sleeker show-set brings together all these changes, lending itself to this fast-paced gameplay that will masterfully be executed by host Amitabh Bachchan.

The 15 season of Kaun Banega Crorepati is co-presented by Hyundai Motor India Limited and co-powered by Asian Paints, Ultratech Cement, Mondelez India and Parag Milk Foods. With Banking Partner – State Bank of India and Special Partner – Vicco Laboratories, the show’s associate sponsors are Xiaomi, MRF, Bikaji, RC Plasto Tanks and Pipes, Kalyan Jewellers and Cera Sanitaryware. The reality quiz show also has a large partnership deal with the Reserve Bank of India.

Tune in to watch Kaun Banega Crorepati, starting 14 August at 9 p.m., only on Sony Entertainment Television.

 Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX Movie Cluster

business head Neeraj Vyas said, ‘One of the most attractive aspects of Kaun Banega Crorepati is that it is entertainment accompanied by learning, which keeps viewers glued to the screen. Hosted by superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is loved by all generations, this show and its legacy have become a part of popular culture that celebrates Indians who aim high. Mirroring the modern new India – we have added new elements to the 15th season that will make the gameplay more intriguing. The thrill of answering new questions brings families together, promoting cohesive family viewing and we believe that the 15th season will continue to enthral audiences, young and old.

Kaun Banega Crorepati legendary actor and host Amitabh Bachchan said, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati has always been gyaandaar, dhandaar and shaandaar, but in its 15 seasons, we will be ushering in a new beginning – representing an evolving India, its aspirations, and its citizens who dream big. This show has become an integral part of my life, it’s a platform for me to connect with audiences – both inside the studio as well as those watching the show from the comfort of their homes. I am really looking forward to welcoming and interacting with contestants from different walks of life who are such a huge inspiration not only to me but also to those who want to be the change and fulfil their ambitions with the power of knowledge.

Mumbai: Vinod Cookware, a household name in Indian kitchens is partnering with the world-famous competitive cooking show, MasterChef India as their associate sponsor. For its new season, MasterChef India is set to bring fame to India’s most seasoned home chefs, as they cook incredibly challenging and creative dishes in Vinod Cookware’s cutting-edge intelligent cookware. Adding to the popularity of the Hindi-language cooking reality show are eminent celebrity chefs Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Garima Arora. The show will premiere on 2 January, every Monday to Friday at 9:00 PM, on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on SonyLiv.

As part of the associate sponsorship, the home cooks will use Vinod Cookware for creating their masterful dishes to win the judges over. The show will also feature a complete rack branded and stocked with Vinod Cookware’s superlative products. Highlighting their cutting-edge technology, products such as Vinod’s Platinum, Hanos, Zest Inducto, hard anodised, stainless-steel cookware, Europa, and outer-lid pressure cookers will be showcased throughout the reality show. With that, the brand will take up multiple advertising slots between segments as part of the deal. The premium cookware company is focusing on strengthening its brand equity while gaining a favourable spotlight from its audience.

“Vinod Intelligent Cookware has always advocated for hassle-free but excellent cooking. With the new season of MasterChef India, this message will reach our potential target audiences loud and clear, nationwide. Our brand’s expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of the diverse cuisines & cultures that are ingrained in us, making it the perfect pick for both modern & conventional Indian kitchens. Having utilized some leading GEC shows for advertising, partnering with MasterChef India to establish our prominent national presence felt like the right next step. We believe this collaboration will facilitate us to make the act of cooking feel less like a task and get more people excited about it,” said Vinod Cookware director Sunil Agarwal.

Sony Pictures Networks India | Culver Max Entertainment head of ad sales – network channels Sandeep Mehrotra shares, “At Sony Pictures Networks India, feel very proud to associate with brands that resonate with our shows. With MasterChef India, we are sure the brand Vinod Cookware will attract the right target audience. MasterChef India is all set to premiere starting 2nd January at 9:00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on SonyLIV, we feel proud to learn that brands are excited about the show. We’ve also witnessed good traction across categories. This is our first association with Vinod Cookware, and I am sure together we will scout for extended associations as it will enable us to deliver the right message and bring out the core brand values to our trusted brand partners.”

In the spirit of this associate sponsorship, the brand will furthermore be celebrating the special launch of its ‘MasterChef Range’ of products. This range will include their Europa inner-lid pressure cookers, Splendid Plus outer-lid pressure cookers, the entire Hanos Range, a new introduction Platinum saute pan and their Platinum Triply fry pans and extra deep kadais as well. 

Mumbai: Within six weeks of its launch, the sixteenth season of the reality show Bigg Boss attracted over 127 million viewers on Colors and 600 million views on Voot. The show has catapulted itself to the pole position in the non-fiction category with a massive reach of three billion, along with one billion views and a 97 per cent share of voice on Colors Digital, making it one of the marquee shows in the Hindi general entertainment category.

Ching’s brings the zing to the Bigg Boss house. The brand’s presence in the kitchen of the BB house has been synonymous since the last four seasons, as the kitchen is the centre stage for all the drama, masala, and gossip that take place inside the house. Housemates have relished Ching’s products for making boring and mundane food interesting. The hustling and bustling kitchen counters are topped with Ching’s products and have become a taste lifeline for the Bigg Boss contestants. The brand brings a meaningful flavour to the lives of housemates and thus connects with the audience.

Commenting on its association, Ching’s Schezwan Chutney managing director Ajay Gupta said, “This meaningful partnership with Bigg Boss is an ideal place to showcase versatility in our product portfolio. Through this engagement, we wanted to expand our horizons beyond advertising and explore meaningful collaborations that will help to communicate our brand narrative and reach out to a wider audience of fans of desi Chinese in India. Ching’s Schezwan Chutney symbolises the spice and adds zing to the BB house.”

Viacom18 head of revenue, Colors Pavithra KR says, “Bigg Boss kitchen brews maximum melodrama in the house. Ching’s presence in the kitchen over the years has made Ching’s synonymous with the spicy affairs of the kitchen. This is yet another season of Bigg Boss, where we are associating with Ching’s as a special partner. The show’s high-octane visibility and buzz over the seasons have helped Ching’s in creating high recall among its target audience. This time around, we have witnessed a flavorful engagement with the consumers through multiple initiatives that have furthered the brand proposition.”

The 16th season of Bigg Boss is focused on offering a robust experience to brand partners through means of engagement, excitement, & entertainment. The idea is to assist the brands in creating a powerful and impactful narrative that has the potential to build a lasting connection with the audience through content present in multiple markets across geo-social cross-sections in India.

Mumbai: Content creator Banijay has announced that Helen Greatorex has stepped up as its head of format acquisitions. Continuing to report to the global head of content development, James Townley, she will leave behind her senior global development producer title to take on the group’s dedicated strategy in this area.

Serving as Banijay’s senior global development producer since September 2021, she has been working with a number of the group’s key territories to support their unscripted pipelines in order to extend the potential of their IP within a wider footprint. Prior to this, she spent a year as a format manager across brands including Big Brother, Hunted, and Temptation Island.

Greatorex is not new to the acquisitions world, having served as Endemol Shine Group’s acquisitions manager between 2014 and 2020. She is well-versed in recognising and bringing in unscripted titles with hit potential, with considerable deal-making and market experience. Outside of Banijay and building up her content know-how, she spent almost nine years at K7 Media, leaving as director of operations in 2014.

Townley said, “Helen has long been an integral part of the team, and it’s great to have her taking on the acquisition reins. Her content know-how is extensive, and her ability to recognise an emerging hit is like no other, so I can’t think of anyone better placed to guide this area of the business. I look forward to watching her grow further in this role and continue to broaden the Banijay IP offering globally.”

Greatorex added, “It’s been great to explore other areas of the business over the past few years, but I’m pleased to be back in the acquisitions hot seat. There is so much opportunity to drive even greater creativity through having a good grasp on what’s going on outside our walls, and I’m looking forward to bringing that knowledge into the group to further strengthen our own offering and supplement our production pipeline with undiscovered IP.

Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television’s acclaimed reality show, India’s Got Talent, is a national platform for individuals to showcase their diverse skills. Handpicked across the length and breadth of the country, the talent must impress the jury, consisting of the legendary Kirron Kher, the stunning Shilpa Shetty Kundra, and the uber-cool Badshah, who possess a discerning eye for true performers and press the coveted Golden Buzzer to propel participants’ journeys in the competition. With the credo of ‘Vijayi Vishwa Hunar Humhara,’ the show’s inaugural week received widespread acclaim for its visually spectacular acts and phenomenally gifted contestants. And now, India’s Got Talent has created history by breaking multiple Guinness World Records, with five contestants successfully achieving record-breaking feats.

Eight-year-old Arshia Goswami set a record of 17 clean-and-jerk movements in 30 seconds by lifting a 6 kg barbell. Bhagwani Devi, aged 95, defied all odds to become the oldest woman to throw a shot put. Aditya Kodmur’s incredible precision and speed were on full display as he broke the previous world record of piercing 17 cards in a watermelon and expertly stuck 18 cards in watermelons in under a minute. Furthermore, Faith in Action, a Nagaland taekwondo group, achieved the highest assisted kick at a staggering 14 feet while Vikas Swami of Swami and Sons held 81 kg weights suspended from his mouth during a handstand for five seconds. India’s Got Talent celebrates the heroic spirit of all participants, including Dharmendra Rajbhar, who attempted to break 36 coconuts with his forehead in under a minute but unfortunately, had to stop at 34 coconuts. However, his determination and courage has won hearts across the nation.

Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB, PAL and Sony MAX Movie Cluster business head Neeraj Vyas said, “This season has been a glorious celebration of unmatched talent and unwavering dedication, that echoes the sentiment of ‘Vijayi Vishwa Hunar Humhara.’ We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the record-breakers for achieving the feat of securing new Guinness World Records. Sony Entertainment Television continues its commitment to providing a platform that nurtures and commemorates the unique talent of India, and we hope to continue enthralling viewers with our impressive array of cutting-edge performances.”

Mumbai: Vinod Cookware has announced its partnership with Zee Marathi’s highly anticipated cooking reality show, ‘Maharashtrachi Kitchen Queen’. As the cooking show’s official gifting partner, Vinod Cookware- a leading name in the culinary industry seeks to increase its regional brand awareness by advertising its superlative products during the episodes. The reality show hosted by the popular Marathi actor Sankarshan Karhade, went live on 15 May 2023. This collaboration marks an exciting milestone for both Vinod Cookware and the popular Marathi television network. 

Leveraging on the loyal fanbase of Zee Marathi, the new cooking show will provide a platform to display the cooking skills, creativity, and expertise of exceptional home cooks from Maharashtra. As part of the sponsorship, Vinod Cookware will provide the contestants with its state-of-the-art intelligent cookware, enabling them to deliver outstanding dishes during the competition. The cookware brand’s products will be displayed on the branding rack and given out as gift hampers to the winners.

“We are thrilled to be associated with one of the country’s biggest regional TV channels Zee Marathi for its show ‘Maharashtrachi Kitchen Queen.’ As their gifting partner, we seek to support the talent and passion of home cooks in Maharashtra, while also showcasing our exceptional range of cookware. Vinod Cookware is committed to providing kitchen solutions that inspire creativity, and we believe this partnership will bring forth the best of Maharashtra’s culinary excellence.” said Vinod Cookware director Sunil Agarwal.

Mumbai: The latest season of India’s most iconic youth reality show, MTV Roadies Karm ya Kaand is successfully redefining entertainment with high-octane action, daredevilry, and electrifying competition. Elevating adrenaline levels, in an unprecedented collaboration with Viacom18 Studios, MTV Roadies – Karm ya Kaand gears up to integrate with the recently released Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One from the popular movie franchise, for a thrilling episode. The special episode titled ‘Haar ka Vaar’ is scheduled to air on 22 July 2023, Saturday at 7 PM on MTV and right after on JioCinema, promising an unforgettable experience for viewers.

Inspired by the gripping world of Mission Impossible, the theme of the immunity task centres around a daring jewel heist. Drawing from the rich history of Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala, who owned a magnificent diamond necklace that mysteriously disappeared in 1948, the Roadies will embark on a mission to recover the missing diamond pieces, adding more intrigue and excitement to the task.

The challenge will take place within the walls of the enchanting Bagrian Haveli, a 200-year-old heritage mansion located in Punjab. The haveli’s various corners will hide the elusive diamond pieces, each marked with prominent X symbols for identification. Additionally, a dedicated medic section will be available to replenish the Roadies’ lifelines.

Adding to this excitement, MTV will also run a contest on social media that will give viewers of the show a chance to win tickets to the movie, by answering a simple question. 

The collaboration between MTV Roadies – Karm Ya Kaand and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One promises to deliver an electrifying episode, blending the thrill of the Mission Impossible franchise with the bold adventure and intense competition of the show that has redefined youth reality entertainment. The integration will captivate audiences and provide a unique and unforgettable television experience.

Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present, A Tom Cruise Production, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One directed by Christopher McQuarrie is in theatres, Dolby Cinema, premium large formats, And Imax in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu.

Mumbai: Did you know? A lot of trees are felled to produce the sheer volume of paper that gets utilised for everything from form-filling and documenting contestant profiles to maintaining logs of scores, all in the course of the auditions phase of a typical reality show. This is enough to create a dent in the ecosystem, leading to even more serious global issues such as climate change, flooding, soil erosion, desertification, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and eventually, global warming. 

Given this environmental concern, as a responsible broadcaster, Zee TV, by way of an industry-first initiative in the history of reality television, has decided to take a step towards healing our planet by going green, going digital during the audition phase of the upcoming season of its very own singing reality show – Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. As per reports from G.A.M.E (Greening Advertising Media & Entertainment), a full-service sustainability consulting organization, going paper-free during the audition phase for the latest season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has resulted in avoiding carbon emissions to the order of 963.88 Kgs CO2e and saving 135625 litres of water that gets utilised while manufacturing these sheets. 

Be it the announcing of online auditions where aspiring singers are being encouraged to send their audition clips on the ZEE5 app or register on the website in the case of on-ground auditions, the channel has done away with the usage of paper. No forms, no score sheets, no stickers or notices that you typically see at an on-ground audition Zee TV has gone the extra mile in deploying technology, going entirely digital and doing away with paper in every situation.   

Zee TV business head Aparna Bhosle said, “In these digital times, I believe our endeavour of going paper-free for Sa Re Ga Ma Pa auditions is a step towards being eco-friendly and sustainable. It is the first time that the auditions of a reality show are going paperless and we hope to bring about a positive change through this initiative”.

Apart from the audition phase going paperless, in the course of the season top performing singers would stand to win a life-changing opportunity to sing an original song which will be released by Zee Music Company. Clearly, Zee TV is going all out to scout the best talent and provide them with opportunities beyond the platform even before the show draws to an end.

With the auditions process ongoing, make sure you register yourself or the talented singers you have found quickly. Anyone who is 15 years and above and has what it takes to become the next big singing sensation by participating in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2023, needs to register on Zee Tv’s official website and/or send their audition clips on the ZEE5 app. 

In the meantime, watch this space for more news and developments regarding the new season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, which will premiere soon on Zee TV!