GECs
Colors’ ‘Bigg Boss 13’ introduces superfast format with mini-finale
MUMBAI: Colors is all set to premiere its biggest reality show Bigg Boss 13 with a different format on 29 September at 9 pm and thereafter every day at 10.30 pm followed by weekends at 9 pm. This year the channel has robbed in smartphone brand Vivo as the presenting sponsor, FMCG product Lay’s as a special partner while Ching’s Chinese, PokerStars.in, BharatPe, Whirlpool and Helo are associate sponsors.
Last year, the channel witnessed 5 to 6 per cent growth in its ad rate and this year it is expecting at least 10 per cent this year with the growth of viewership and ratings of the show. Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV network head Nina Jaipuria said, "Ad rates grow as the inventory becomes scarce. As the interest speaks, the rating peaks, the rates will increase and therefore we will never sell out inventory right upfront. We will ensure that as the rates go up, as the show starts speaking and as the viewership start speaking."
She further said, "We will expect more rise in ad rates compared to last year because we are also in the Diwali festive season. Everybody's waiting very anxiously for celebrities, which leads to more traction and viewership. And therefore, we should actually see at least 10 per cent increase in ad rate. We normally see a growth in Diwali in terms of revenue as well as ratings. So we make sure we monetise and capitalise on that event because it's a big show for us. And we will truly want to monetise it to its maximum."
Brands love this show and the channel is aware of it. Jaipuria said, "Over the years Bigg Boss has become a platform that has been very engaging for brands. They've understood that there is a lot of opportunity and potential where brands can be integrated, customisations can happen and solutions can be found. And, therefore, the minute we talk about a different format, a little innovation, an all-celeb show, we see a lot of advertisers and we've already got seven advertisers on board. We're hoping to get more as soon as the show starts."
Jaipuria also explained the different format of show. "Typically with Bigg Boss there is always an expectation of something different, new, and innovative. This year we made a strategic shift in the format. We made it a superfast format, which starts the minute the contestants go into the house. And the reason why we wanted to do it differently this time also was to create a little bit of dhamaka. So in four weeks itself, we will see a mini finale, although the show is a 100-day show. But we see a lot of excitement in the first 30 days and that will peak the viewers’ interest. And there'll be a lot of speculation, and then a lot of anticipation. So we decided consciously to make sure that we changed the format in a way which is different and new and never seen."
Elaborating on the concept of the show, Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment chief content officer Manisha Sharma said, “Bigg Boss is a property that is year-marked in everybody’s calendar, whether it’s the celebrities who want to participate, the partners who want to associate or the creative thinkers who want to innovate. Every season, we give a new meaning to unpredictability and make the content entertaining as well as cohesive to appeal to all. This season will pick up the pace from the minute the contestants enter inside, drawing more traction and raking up multiple debates and discussions.”
Speaking about the launch of the show, Jaipuria said, “Bigg Boss over the years has become a sentiment synonymous to entertainment rather than just a show. From setting a benchmark in disruptive and voyeuristic content to creating the best platform for brand visibility – Bigg Boss has instituted itself as a phenomenon. Staying true to our promise of providing differentiated entertainment, the new season of Bigg Boss will tread beyond the usual and speed up the proceedings by presenting the action of two seasons packed in one. To add to the curveball is our host, Salman Khan whose association with Bigg Boss for the past 10 years has only added more sheen and charisma to the show.”
As one of the most popular non-scripted reality shows, Endemol Shine India has always given an unconventional spin to Bigg Boss making it more appealing. Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “The franchise has not only grown manifold but has also expanded its footprints in various languages and has been entertaining viewers across the board. This year, we have strived to present a concept that connotes speed and promptness that will enhance the drama and entertainment quotient like never before. We have relocated the set from Lonavala to Mumbai for the first time and have given the house a wondrous vibe. We hope the audience gets hooked on to this speedy journey that they will soon embark on.”
Colors’ Bigg Boss is a multiplatform property which will be present across mediums for its audience. This time around, AR Instagram Filter will be introduced in the launch week on digital front. Through #BB13TedhaTask, audiences will get to perform 5 tedha tasks every day and win a chance to partake in the Bigg Boss festivities. VOOT will keep the digital viewers attuned to the exclusive content and latest ongoing of the house through its popular properties like ‘Unseen Undekha’, ‘Cutless’, ‘Bigg Buzz’ and new additions like- ‘VOOT Night Live- BB Edition’.
Also, increasing the interactivity this season will be a host of fun and engaging segments like- ‘Video Vichaar’, ‘Chugli Booth’ and ‘Pulse meter’, where users will get a chance to participate in the content of the show like never before. For the first time, viewers will get to vote on Voot and MyJio App. Besides the voting feature on MyJio App, there are a host of other interactive activities lined up for the users to enhance engagement including sentimeter, Jio Luxury Bazaar, an interactive game and ‘Bigg Boss League which will be based on a predict-to-win model. The select lucky winners will even get to visit the Bigg Boss set and see Salman Khan live as a gratification.
On the marketing front, a robust network and non-network plan with a mix of news, movies, music and regional channels along with a high impact OOH are being planned. As Bigg Boss moves to Mumbai this season, the house will be adorned with many interesting pop art elements and bring colour palettes to give it a more youthful feel. With a double dhamaka in-store, the Bigg Boss journey is sure to be an entertainment extravaganza.
GECs
Sun TV posts steady revenue, profit dips amid rising costs
CHENNAI: It appears there is still plenty of Sun to go around in the Indian broadcasting landscape, even if a few clouds have drifted across the financial horizon. Sun TV Network Limited, the Chennai-based behemoth that dominates airwaves across seven languages, has tuned into a steady frequency for the quarter ending 31 December 2025. While the numbers show a resilient revenue stream, the company’s latest broadcast reveals a few static-filled spots in its profit margins.
For the quarter in question, Sun TV’s total income climbed by approximately 3.31 per cent, reaching Rs 958.39 crores compared to Rs 927.66 crores in the same period last year. Revenue from operations also saw a healthy bump, rising 4.32 per cent to Rs 827.87 crores.
The real star of the show, however, was domestic subscription revenue, which surged by 8.86 per cent to Rs 472.99 crores. This growth highlights the enduring appetite for Sun’s diverse content, which spans everything from daily soaps in Tamil and Telugu to its burgeoning OTT platform, Sun NXT.
Despite the revenue growth, the picture quality of the profits was slightly blurred by rising costs. Eitda for the quarter stood at Rs 409.79 crores, a dip from the Rs 432.14 crores recorded in the corresponding 2024 quarter.
The profit after tax followed a similar downward trend, settling at Rs 316.44 crores against the previous year’s Rs 347.17 crores. Advertisers also seemed to have switched channels slightly, with advertisement revenues sliding to Rs 291.94 crores from Rs 332.17 crores.
Sun TV isn’t just playing on home turf; its sporting ambitions are becoming increasingly global. The network now owns three major cricket franchises: SunRisers Hyderabad in the IPL, SunRisers Eastern Cape in SA20, and SunRisers Leeds Limited in The Hundred (UK).
The foray into British cricket saw the company acquire a 100 per cent stake in Northern Superchargers Limited (now SunRisers Leeds) for approximately £100 million. While these franchises brought in Rs 14.61 crores this quarter, they also incurred corresponding costs of Rs 19.89 crores. Over the nine-month period, however, the cricket business is a major player, contributing Rs 487.64 crores in income.
The company’s bottom line took a minor hit from exceptional items, including a Rs 4.23 crore charge related to India’s new Labour Codes, which consolidated 29 existing labour laws. Additionally, the consolidated results reflect the amalgamation of Kal Radio Limited with Udaya FM, a move that became effective in May 2025 and required a restatement of previous figures.
To keep investors from reaching for the remote, the Board has declared an interim dividend of 50 per cent, that’s Rs 2.50 per equity share. This comes on top of earlier dividends of 100 per cent (Rs 5.00) and 75 per cent (Rs 3.75) declared in August and November 2025, respectively.
With a massive cash reserve and a dominant position in the South Indian market, Sun TV continues to shine, even if the current quarter required a bit of fine-tuning. For now, shareholders can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
GECs
SPNI hires Pradeep M with responsibility for standards and practices in the south
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has hired Pradeep M to handle standards and practices for its southern market, bolstering its compliance bench as content rules tighten across platforms.
Pradeep, who has nearly 13 years in the entertainment media industry, takes on responsibility for content standards in a region that is both linguistically diverse and regulatorily sensitive. His brief spans television, OTT, sports and digital platforms.
He specialises in content review and compliance across shows, commercials, on-air promotions and international feeds, ensuring alignment with broadcast, OTT and advertising codes. He has also handled brand approvals and sponsorship integrations for heavily regulated categories—including online gaming, cryptocurrency, NFTs and lottery brands—offering guidance shaped by fast-evolving rules.
Before Sony, Pradeep worked at Jiostar as assistant manager for content regulation from November 2024 to January 2026. Earlier, he spent nearly seven years at Viacom18 Media, rising from senior executive to assistant manager in content regulation between 2018 and 2024. There he served as a key compliance touchpoint for the network.
His career began on the creative side. Between 2013 and 2018, he worked as executive producer on feature films and television shows, gaining hands-on exposure to production. He also had a stint as a non-fiction show director at Star TV Network in 2017. That mix of creative and regulatory experience gives him a dual lens—how content is made and how it must be managed.
As regulators, platforms and advertisers all tighten the screws, broadcasters are investing more in gatekeepers who can keep creativity within the lines. Sony’s latest hire shows where the industry is heading: in the streaming age, compliance is content’s quiet co-star.
GECs
Colors Gujarati rolls out two new shows from 2nd February
MUMBAI: Colors Gujarati has unveiled two new prime-time shows as part of its push to strengthen culturally rooted storytelling for regional audiences. The channel will premiere the devotional saga Gangasati–Paanbai at 7.30 pm, followed by the romantic family drama Manmelo at 9.30 pm from February 2.
Inspired by Gujarat’s spiritual and literary heritage, Gangasati–Paanbai: Shyam Dhun No Navo Adhyay draws from the timeless bhajans and poetry of saint-poetesses Gangasati and Paanbai, weaving devotion and human values into a contemporary narrative aimed at younger viewers.
In contrast, Manmelo explores love and responsibility across social divides, tracing the lives of three middle-class sisters whose relationships with three affluent brothers reshape their futures. The show delves into ambition, emotional conflict and the realities of married life, offering a layered family drama.
A Colors Gujarati spokesperson said the new launches reflect the channel’s commitment to authentic Gujarati entertainment that blends cultural values with modern storytelling.
-
News Broadcasting1 week agoMukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive
-
News Headline1 month agoFrom selfies to big bucks, India’s influencer economy explodes in 2025
-
iWorld2 weeks agoNetflix celebrates a decade in India with Shah Rukh Khan-narrated tribute film
-
iWorld5 months agoBillions still offline despite mobile internet surge: GSMA
-
Hollywood6 days agoThe man who dubbed Harry Potter for the world is stunned by Mumbai traffic
-
I&B Ministry3 months agoIndia steps up fight against digital piracy
-
MAM3 months agoHoABL soars high with dazzling Nagpur sebut
-
Brands4 days agoNetflix India names Rekha Rane director of films and series marketing


