ITV

Tag: Anooj Kapoor

  • Sony SAB launches ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’ campaign

    Sony SAB launches ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Sony SAB launches ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’, a no-honking awareness campaign. The campaign is launched to spread awareness about nuisance of unnecessary honking and to curb noise pollution due to the same in the city. The upcoming new silent comedy show, Gupp Chupp is the base behind the launch of this campaign.

    Drive Gupp Chupp campaign will hit the city starting 4th Aug and will run for two weeks. There will be intensive communication through various types of message boards on ‘no honking’ at crucial traffic prone areas. The channel has also put out interesting witty hoardings at major junctions and also across the city urging motorists to drive safely without honking. SAB is the only channel in the television industry to offer silent comedies, with the launch of ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’, it also becomes the only channel to launch a campaign on ‘No Honking’.

    The initiative will also have an intensive 360 degree marketing campaign to promote ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’ in Mumbai. With interesting print and radio ads urging people to honk less to innovative outdoor mediums communicating the message, the channel has gone all out to make Drive Gupp Chupp a success.

    Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “We are all well aware of the excessive honking and the cacophony that it leads to on Mumbai roads. At SAB, we have always supported and stood for such social initiatives in the past too. We hope to contribute towards the campaign and make a difference with our Drive Gupp Chupp initiative.”

  • Sony SAB launches ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’ campaign

    Sony SAB launches ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Sony SAB launches ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’, a no-honking awareness campaign. The campaign is launched to spread awareness about nuisance of unnecessary honking and to curb noise pollution due to the same in the city. The upcoming new silent comedy show, Gupp Chupp is the base behind the launch of this campaign.

    Drive Gupp Chupp campaign will hit the city starting 4th Aug and will run for two weeks. There will be intensive communication through various types of message boards on ‘no honking’ at crucial traffic prone areas. The channel has also put out interesting witty hoardings at major junctions and also across the city urging motorists to drive safely without honking. SAB is the only channel in the television industry to offer silent comedies, with the launch of ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’, it also becomes the only channel to launch a campaign on ‘No Honking’.

    The initiative will also have an intensive 360 degree marketing campaign to promote ‘Drive Gupp Chupp’ in Mumbai. With interesting print and radio ads urging people to honk less to innovative outdoor mediums communicating the message, the channel has gone all out to make Drive Gupp Chupp a success.

    Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “We are all well aware of the excessive honking and the cacophony that it leads to on Mumbai roads. At SAB, we have always supported and stood for such social initiatives in the past too. We hope to contribute towards the campaign and make a difference with our Drive Gupp Chupp initiative.”

  • Sony SAB forms alliance with Twitter to create Twitter BOT for promoting its new show

    Sony SAB forms alliance with Twitter to create Twitter BOT for promoting its new show

    MUMBAI: Sony SAB in partnership with Twitter has launched a very innovative and first of its kind social initiative on Twitter for its new show Y.A.R.O K Tashan. A first in the entertainment industry in India, SAB in collaboration with Twitter has created a unique Twitter BOT representing the Humanoid – Y.A.R.O, a lead character in its new show. The BOT replicates the characteristics of Y.A.R.O by answering all kind of question thrown at it. The show which centres on the protagonist Y.A.R.O, a humanoid, focuses on the relationship with friends and family, importance of love and humanity. In line with the new age concept of the show, the channel has also implemented this idea for its online and on ground marketing promotions.

    This uniqueinitiative is such that anyone on Twitter can tweet any question on their mind with hashtag#SABKaYaroand they will get a response to the question in just a second. One can ask any generic question they like and they will get a response from Y.A.R.O through the SAB almost instantly. The netizens can experience the brilliance of the technology and intelligence that Y.A.R.O embodies. Try it to believe it!

    SAB TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “The partnership with Twitter is intended to provide our potential viewers a holistic experience of extraordinary powers of Y.A.R.O. The initiative makes it convenient for people to access Twitter and comprehend the genius of Y.A.R.O”

    Twitter India head of TV partnership Viral Jani said, “Twitter is live, public and conversational and we encourage our partners to use our platform in an innovative manner and to its full potential. This initiative is a great example of bringing alive a character on Twitter as an auto-response bot, and amplifying it to audiences by showcasing Tweets on a billboard in real time”

    #SABKaYaro set the Twitter on fire was when thousands of Twitteratis engaged with #SABKaYaro by throwing diverse questions ranging from scientific questions on atmosphere and the planet to funny questions like ‘Will you have coffee with me?’.

    The initiative is displayed live on few high-traffic vantage outdoor sits in Mumbai. Wherein, if you are around the vicinity and happen to ask a question on Twitter with #SABKaYaro, your tweet and the response will also be displayed on the outdoor medium.

    With a show so fresh and promotion so novel, Y.A.R.O Ka Tashan sure promises to be a package full of entertainment!

  • Sony SAB forms alliance with Twitter to create Twitter BOT for promoting its new show

    Sony SAB forms alliance with Twitter to create Twitter BOT for promoting its new show

    MUMBAI: Sony SAB in partnership with Twitter has launched a very innovative and first of its kind social initiative on Twitter for its new show Y.A.R.O K Tashan. A first in the entertainment industry in India, SAB in collaboration with Twitter has created a unique Twitter BOT representing the Humanoid – Y.A.R.O, a lead character in its new show. The BOT replicates the characteristics of Y.A.R.O by answering all kind of question thrown at it. The show which centres on the protagonist Y.A.R.O, a humanoid, focuses on the relationship with friends and family, importance of love and humanity. In line with the new age concept of the show, the channel has also implemented this idea for its online and on ground marketing promotions.

    This uniqueinitiative is such that anyone on Twitter can tweet any question on their mind with hashtag#SABKaYaroand they will get a response to the question in just a second. One can ask any generic question they like and they will get a response from Y.A.R.O through the SAB almost instantly. The netizens can experience the brilliance of the technology and intelligence that Y.A.R.O embodies. Try it to believe it!

    SAB TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “The partnership with Twitter is intended to provide our potential viewers a holistic experience of extraordinary powers of Y.A.R.O. The initiative makes it convenient for people to access Twitter and comprehend the genius of Y.A.R.O”

    Twitter India head of TV partnership Viral Jani said, “Twitter is live, public and conversational and we encourage our partners to use our platform in an innovative manner and to its full potential. This initiative is a great example of bringing alive a character on Twitter as an auto-response bot, and amplifying it to audiences by showcasing Tweets on a billboard in real time”

    #SABKaYaro set the Twitter on fire was when thousands of Twitteratis engaged with #SABKaYaro by throwing diverse questions ranging from scientific questions on atmosphere and the planet to funny questions like ‘Will you have coffee with me?’.

    The initiative is displayed live on few high-traffic vantage outdoor sits in Mumbai. Wherein, if you are around the vicinity and happen to ask a question on Twitter with #SABKaYaro, your tweet and the response will also be displayed on the outdoor medium.

    With a show so fresh and promotion so novel, Y.A.R.O Ka Tashan sure promises to be a package full of entertainment!

  • TV meets digital; Sab TV ties up with Twitter

    TV meets digital; Sab TV ties up with Twitter

    MUMBAI: Gone are the days when the social media platform Twitter was just for a casual chit chat, it is now an important tool for mainstream media. Breaking the stereotype trend, Sab TV staying true to its brand belief of ‘Differentiation through Innovation’, brings to its audience yet another unique concept- Khidki.  The channel in partnership with television producer JD Majethia and Bollywood director Umesh Shukla has called in for entries i.e. stories from the common man through Twitter – #TweetAFunnyStory.

    The brief is that entries should encompass unique yet funny stories that one has experienced in life, something that holds a special place in one’s memories and brings out the laughs. The shortlisted stories will then be presented to the world in the form of an episodic series on the channel.

    Sab TV will give an opportunity to millions of families to tell their funny stories to the world. The viewers can submit their entries on Twitter or email them to humarifunnykahani@setindia.com. The most interesting and entertaining story will be told on-screen and the family will also get a chance to be a part of the series as the story heads towards the climax.

    Until now, the channel has received around 4,000 stories.  The show Khidki will be a half-hour weekday show. Though the channel has not finalized the date as yet, it is planning to launch the show post IPL.

    Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “The show will be based on real life stories. So we are asking them to send their stories and incidents to us which we shall develop into an episode. At the end of that particular episode, the person who sent that incident will get a chance to appear on the show and get to talk little more about it. This will be not only give a chance to the viewer to get the sense of complete engagement, it will also make the story extremely relative to the audiences.”

    Kapoor further added, “We have to attract such stories from various platforms and therefore the partnership with Twitter became a very obvious choice because it is very easy for twitterti to tweet the story and same could be evaluated by us.”   

    The channel is following a robust marketing strategy for Khidki. Sab TV is going all out to aggressively promote the show and invite stories through innovative marketing.

    Using a unique concept, the channel is conducting marketing activation programs in the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express and some long distance trains to engage with family commuters and invite stories.  Further, window-structured ‘Khidki’ outdoor innovations have been installed to generate a buzz around the initiative. These are in addition to the traditional media mix which includes television, print, radio and outdoor. “Besides our partnership with Twitter for #TweetAFunnyStory, we are collaborating with multiple digital platforms to generate stories,” revealed Kapoor.

    Twitter is complementary to the full experience of viewing a TV channel today, with each tweet being an opportunity for channels to strengthen relationships with their audiences. Twitter India continues to build strategic partnerships with broadcasters helping them amplify their message, drive more viewers and generate more user engagement with their content on the platform

    On the partnership between the channel and Twitter India, Twitter India TV partnership head Viral Jani said, “We are coming together and inviting stories from the platform to give consumers a platform. We amplify their effort on our platform and with this initiative we want to tell to the world that it is a great example how you can use Twitter to reach out to your consumer. There is no deal per se, but it’s a partnership which can be mutually beneficial and also beneficial for our consumers.  Sab TV is not only engaging with our users, but also giving them an opportunity to be a part of a TV show. It is just a first step in the long term relationship with Sab TV. We will be in partnership with Sab TV for more events that it is planning to launch in few months, this is just a beginning.”  

    With television being one of the largest conversation generators on the platform, Twitter aims to become the second screen to TV in India engaging audiences in real-time with the best of television content. “Twitter has always been a second screen app for TV viewers, globally and as well as in India. People watch shows on television and tweet about those shows on Twitter. They love to engage with the shows, channels and celebrities who are the part of the television series. They are interested in behind the scenes, pictures, videos, and they love to do interactions, be it for a reality television show or a new show. Twitter is like a unique platform where all of them can interact with each other. Considering this, there was a hunger from the users and the TV partners, and we believe that it’s a great thing for us and for them,” concluded Jani.

     

  • TV meets digital; Sab TV ties up with Twitter

    TV meets digital; Sab TV ties up with Twitter

    MUMBAI: Gone are the days when the social media platform Twitter was just for a casual chit chat, it is now an important tool for mainstream media. Breaking the stereotype trend, Sab TV staying true to its brand belief of ‘Differentiation through Innovation’, brings to its audience yet another unique concept- Khidki.  The channel in partnership with television producer JD Majethia and Bollywood director Umesh Shukla has called in for entries i.e. stories from the common man through Twitter – #TweetAFunnyStory.

    The brief is that entries should encompass unique yet funny stories that one has experienced in life, something that holds a special place in one’s memories and brings out the laughs. The shortlisted stories will then be presented to the world in the form of an episodic series on the channel.

    Sab TV will give an opportunity to millions of families to tell their funny stories to the world. The viewers can submit their entries on Twitter or email them to humarifunnykahani@setindia.com. The most interesting and entertaining story will be told on-screen and the family will also get a chance to be a part of the series as the story heads towards the climax.

    Until now, the channel has received around 4,000 stories.  The show Khidki will be a half-hour weekday show. Though the channel has not finalized the date as yet, it is planning to launch the show post IPL.

    Speaking with Indiantelevision.com, Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “The show will be based on real life stories. So we are asking them to send their stories and incidents to us which we shall develop into an episode. At the end of that particular episode, the person who sent that incident will get a chance to appear on the show and get to talk little more about it. This will be not only give a chance to the viewer to get the sense of complete engagement, it will also make the story extremely relative to the audiences.”

    Kapoor further added, “We have to attract such stories from various platforms and therefore the partnership with Twitter became a very obvious choice because it is very easy for twitterti to tweet the story and same could be evaluated by us.”   

    The channel is following a robust marketing strategy for Khidki. Sab TV is going all out to aggressively promote the show and invite stories through innovative marketing.

    Using a unique concept, the channel is conducting marketing activation programs in the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express and some long distance trains to engage with family commuters and invite stories.  Further, window-structured ‘Khidki’ outdoor innovations have been installed to generate a buzz around the initiative. These are in addition to the traditional media mix which includes television, print, radio and outdoor. “Besides our partnership with Twitter for #TweetAFunnyStory, we are collaborating with multiple digital platforms to generate stories,” revealed Kapoor.

    Twitter is complementary to the full experience of viewing a TV channel today, with each tweet being an opportunity for channels to strengthen relationships with their audiences. Twitter India continues to build strategic partnerships with broadcasters helping them amplify their message, drive more viewers and generate more user engagement with their content on the platform

    On the partnership between the channel and Twitter India, Twitter India TV partnership head Viral Jani said, “We are coming together and inviting stories from the platform to give consumers a platform. We amplify their effort on our platform and with this initiative we want to tell to the world that it is a great example how you can use Twitter to reach out to your consumer. There is no deal per se, but it’s a partnership which can be mutually beneficial and also beneficial for our consumers.  Sab TV is not only engaging with our users, but also giving them an opportunity to be a part of a TV show. It is just a first step in the long term relationship with Sab TV. We will be in partnership with Sab TV for more events that it is planning to launch in few months, this is just a beginning.”  

    With television being one of the largest conversation generators on the platform, Twitter aims to become the second screen to TV in India engaging audiences in real-time with the best of television content. “Twitter has always been a second screen app for TV viewers, globally and as well as in India. People watch shows on television and tweet about those shows on Twitter. They love to engage with the shows, channels and celebrities who are the part of the television series. They are interested in behind the scenes, pictures, videos, and they love to do interactions, be it for a reality television show or a new show. Twitter is like a unique platform where all of them can interact with each other. Considering this, there was a hunger from the users and the TV partners, and we believe that it’s a great thing for us and for them,” concluded Jani.

     

  • ‘Some tried roast format well; I don’t know how the society will accept it’ : Anooj Kapoor

    ‘Some tried roast format well; I don’t know how the society will accept it’ : Anooj Kapoor

    The comedy genre on Indian television has witnessed considerable growth over the last few years. While Sony Pictures Networks India’s comedy channel Sab TV has carved a niche for itself in the space, others like Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) also saw the potential in it and launched Big Magic. What’s more, even Hindi general entertainment channels dish out their fair share of comedy week on week.

    Sab TV, which has pioneered the daily comedy format in the industry, has given many iconic shows over the last 15 years. 

    From dramedies to stand-up comedy to roast comedy, shows are sprouting left, right and centre across channels. In a competitive scenario, it’s definitely no laughing matter to constantly innovate and dish out content that will tickle the funny bone. And Sab TV senior executive vice president & business head Anooj Kapoor probably has the toughest job of making sure that the channel’s shows are consistently making the audience laugh.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com, Kapoor talks about the comedy genre and its growth.

    Excerpts:

    How was 2015 for the comedy genre – fiction & non-fiction – on Indian Television? 

    It’s interesting to see channels beyond Sab trying to emulate our model of daily comedy. It’s a tribute to Sab, which is a pioneer in daily comedy.

    More and more channels are introducing comedy shows and we also have a comedy channel in Big Magic. Do you think that the comedy space is growing or is it just a strategic move? 

    There’s no doubt that the genre has grown and it is poised to grow more sooner or later. Sab has carved out a successful business model for itself since the last seven – eight years of how daily comedy can attract viewers and advertisers. Fortunately, some players in the market have also realised the same and it can only be good for the genre overall.

    Stand-up comedy, family drama comedy or historical comedy, which do you think has more potential?

    Only good content has the potential to make shows successful or unsuccessful. To give you a parallel of comedy in Hindi cinema, there are different kinds of comedy created by different people. The kind of comedy that Hrishikesh Mukherjee created is different from that by David Dhawan or Priyadarshan but at the same time they were all successful, which proves that whenever you create quality content in comedy or in any other genre, it will attract viewers.

    Sab launched a first of its kind reality show called Comedy Superstar. What was the response and what’s the scope of a reality show like that?

    The response was not very good but our intention to launch the show was good. We tried to create a platform for budding stand-up comedians but fortunately or unfortunately the audience are now used to some top level people from the field, who are veterans in the industry now. The audience is used to their peculiar style of humour and obviously new comers would not match up to their standard, so they didn’t do well. But as a format, we would certainly try it again as it gives the industry fresh talent.

    In the fiction and non-fiction space, many international shows have been brought to India. Is there scope of bringing international comedy show formats to India?

    In 2012, Sab TV launched the Indian adaptation of the American sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, which was called Jeannie Aur Juju. Between the 1990s to 2000, many successful sitcom were launched in the west, a lot of which have the scope of being brought to India. 

    Fortunately, at present, we don’t have a shortage of home grown content, which is also more cost effective. However, if a striking show in the comedy genre comes up and if we have a suitable budget, we are open to acquiring it.

    When it comes to ratings, Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma is the only high rated show on Sab TV. However, the others have not really delivered remarkable ratings. What is holding them back?

    All channels have a flagship show, whether it is Star Plus’ Diya Aur Baati Hum or Sony Entertainment Television.com’s CID. In fact, CID has been Sony’s flagship show for a very long time. So just because channels have a flagship show, it doesn’t mean that their other shows are not successful. On our channel, we had Lapataganj and F.I.R, which ran for 1500 episodes. Now we have shows like Chidya Ghar, which has done more 1000 episodes and Balveer that has completed 800 episodes and are still going strong. These are delivering a threshold for the channel and making it a profitable proposition for us.

    When the channel has four strong running shows, which are doing so well in a difficult daily comedy format, then they are successful. Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma, which is based on the famous weekly Gujarati series Duniya Na Undha Chasma written by renowned writer Tarak Mehta, who is already a household name in Gujarat, enjoys other benefits that other shows on the channel do not have.

    What growth are you expecting from comedy genre in the coming year?

    It’s difficult to say how the comedy genre will grow. It will depend on what everyone in the market is doing to raise the bar. If they are able to grow themselves, then obviously the overall genre will expand but if not, then I don’t see a market growth.

    Comedy as a genre is spreading its wing to others platform as well. Do you think it as a danger sign for television? 

    Not at all because it simultaneously existed in the west for decades and now it is available on multiple platforms. Everyone has survived and sustained in the market, so I don’t see it as a danger.

    What do you think were the landmarks in the comedy space in 2015 – on-air and off-air?

    Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma became the world’s longest running show and was named in the Guinness Book of World Record. That is a big landmark on-air. When it comes to off-air, we launched Chai Pe Chutkule where stand-up comedians travelled to various cities in India and Sab viewers were provided with free entertainment by top ten comedians over a cup of tea.

    Colors is now trying the roast format with Comedy Nights Bachao. With the Indian Censor board’s hawk eye on “propah” content, what is the scope of brining the international roast format to India? We saw what happened earlier this year with the Ranveer Singh – Arjun Kapoor roast.

    Some people have tried it successfully but I don’t know to what extend the format will be accepted by our society. We will have to wait and watch for its sustainability.

  • ‘Some tried roast format well; I don’t know how the society will accept it’ : Anooj Kapoor

    ‘Some tried roast format well; I don’t know how the society will accept it’ : Anooj Kapoor

    The comedy genre on Indian television has witnessed considerable growth over the last few years. While Sony Pictures Networks India’s comedy channel Sab TV has carved a niche for itself in the space, others like Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) also saw the potential in it and launched Big Magic. What’s more, even Hindi general entertainment channels dish out their fair share of comedy week on week.

    Sab TV, which has pioneered the daily comedy format in the industry, has given many iconic shows over the last 15 years. 

    From dramedies to stand-up comedy to roast comedy, shows are sprouting left, right and centre across channels. In a competitive scenario, it’s definitely no laughing matter to constantly innovate and dish out content that will tickle the funny bone. And Sab TV senior executive vice president & business head Anooj Kapoor probably has the toughest job of making sure that the channel’s shows are consistently making the audience laugh.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com, Kapoor talks about the comedy genre and its growth.

    Excerpts:

    How was 2015 for the comedy genre – fiction & non-fiction – on Indian Television? 

    It’s interesting to see channels beyond Sab trying to emulate our model of daily comedy. It’s a tribute to Sab, which is a pioneer in daily comedy.

    More and more channels are introducing comedy shows and we also have a comedy channel in Big Magic. Do you think that the comedy space is growing or is it just a strategic move? 

    There’s no doubt that the genre has grown and it is poised to grow more sooner or later. Sab has carved out a successful business model for itself since the last seven – eight years of how daily comedy can attract viewers and advertisers. Fortunately, some players in the market have also realised the same and it can only be good for the genre overall.

    Stand-up comedy, family drama comedy or historical comedy, which do you think has more potential?

    Only good content has the potential to make shows successful or unsuccessful. To give you a parallel of comedy in Hindi cinema, there are different kinds of comedy created by different people. The kind of comedy that Hrishikesh Mukherjee created is different from that by David Dhawan or Priyadarshan but at the same time they were all successful, which proves that whenever you create quality content in comedy or in any other genre, it will attract viewers.

    Sab launched a first of its kind reality show called Comedy Superstar. What was the response and what’s the scope of a reality show like that?

    The response was not very good but our intention to launch the show was good. We tried to create a platform for budding stand-up comedians but fortunately or unfortunately the audience are now used to some top level people from the field, who are veterans in the industry now. The audience is used to their peculiar style of humour and obviously new comers would not match up to their standard, so they didn’t do well. But as a format, we would certainly try it again as it gives the industry fresh talent.

    In the fiction and non-fiction space, many international shows have been brought to India. Is there scope of bringing international comedy show formats to India?

    In 2012, Sab TV launched the Indian adaptation of the American sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, which was called Jeannie Aur Juju. Between the 1990s to 2000, many successful sitcom were launched in the west, a lot of which have the scope of being brought to India. 

    Fortunately, at present, we don’t have a shortage of home grown content, which is also more cost effective. However, if a striking show in the comedy genre comes up and if we have a suitable budget, we are open to acquiring it.

    When it comes to ratings, Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma is the only high rated show on Sab TV. However, the others have not really delivered remarkable ratings. What is holding them back?

    All channels have a flagship show, whether it is Star Plus’ Diya Aur Baati Hum or Sony Entertainment Television.com’s CID. In fact, CID has been Sony’s flagship show for a very long time. So just because channels have a flagship show, it doesn’t mean that their other shows are not successful. On our channel, we had Lapataganj and F.I.R, which ran for 1500 episodes. Now we have shows like Chidya Ghar, which has done more 1000 episodes and Balveer that has completed 800 episodes and are still going strong. These are delivering a threshold for the channel and making it a profitable proposition for us.

    When the channel has four strong running shows, which are doing so well in a difficult daily comedy format, then they are successful. Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma, which is based on the famous weekly Gujarati series Duniya Na Undha Chasma written by renowned writer Tarak Mehta, who is already a household name in Gujarat, enjoys other benefits that other shows on the channel do not have.

    What growth are you expecting from comedy genre in the coming year?

    It’s difficult to say how the comedy genre will grow. It will depend on what everyone in the market is doing to raise the bar. If they are able to grow themselves, then obviously the overall genre will expand but if not, then I don’t see a market growth.

    Comedy as a genre is spreading its wing to others platform as well. Do you think it as a danger sign for television? 

    Not at all because it simultaneously existed in the west for decades and now it is available on multiple platforms. Everyone has survived and sustained in the market, so I don’t see it as a danger.

    What do you think were the landmarks in the comedy space in 2015 – on-air and off-air?

    Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasma became the world’s longest running show and was named in the Guinness Book of World Record. That is a big landmark on-air. When it comes to off-air, we launched Chai Pe Chutkule where stand-up comedians travelled to various cities in India and Sab viewers were provided with free entertainment by top ten comedians over a cup of tea.

    Colors is now trying the roast format with Comedy Nights Bachao. With the Indian Censor board’s hawk eye on “propah” content, what is the scope of brining the international roast format to India? We saw what happened earlier this year with the Ranveer Singh – Arjun Kapoor roast.

    Some people have tried it successfully but I don’t know to what extend the format will be accepted by our society. We will have to wait and watch for its sustainability.

  • Sab launches weekend comic show ‘Police Factory’

    Sab launches weekend comic show ‘Police Factory’

    MUMBAI: Bringing varied and innovative content is what Sab has been doing since its launch. While the channel has tickled the funny bones of the viewers with many a comedy shows, it has now readied yet another comic offering.

     

    The new weekend comic show called Police Factory will go on air from 26 September in the 8 pm time slot.  

     

    An action comedy, Police Factory will revolve around the story of a Police Academy based in Mohali, Punjab known for producing outstanding officers. The plot traces the lives of the lead protagonist Shamsher Singh and his seven promising young cadets. 

     

    Produced by DJs A Creative Unit, Police Factory traces the journey of these youngsters who join the Police Academy against their personal wish, only to satisfy their families.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com about the show, SAB TV senior EVP & business head Anooj Kapoor said, “The story revolves around the principal of the academy Mr. Shamsher Singh, who has given a challenge by a journalist to roll out efficient Police officers. Does he have the ability to train the bunch of nincompoops and people who are naturally not suited to join the Police Academy? The show is about seven candidates and how they bumble through their training and investigation of their cases, which will keep viewers on the edge. The challenge taken by Shamsher to train these youngsters constantly endangers his job. The methods followed by the seven cadets are very unconventional to decode the cases. Hence, viewers will get a pack of comedy and a thrill through the show.”

     

    This is not the first time that Sab has come up with the concept of a Police station based comedy show. The channel’s showFIR also had the backdrop of a Police station. Talking about the uniqueness of Police Factory and its differentiating factor from FIR, Kapoor said, “The concept of Police Factory is different from our current offering on Sab TV. There was no thrill inFIR and it was purely a very comic show with very funny character and unreal cases but here in Police Factory they will be solving genuine cases but in hilarious ways.”

     

    Throwing light on the content strategy of the channel, Kapoor asserted that Sab follows its brand philosophy of ‘Differentiation with Innovation.’

     

    “The show is completely different from the other shows on Sab so far. Our strategy is to present the differentiated products to the consumers within the genre of comedy,” he said.

     

    With a bank of 26 episodes, the channel is covering all Hindi speaking markets (HSM) and is extensively promoting the show across print, outdoor, multiplex, television and digital mediums.

     

    While Sab TV’s new show Hum Apke Ghar Me Rehte Hai didn’t do wonders for the channel, its long running show Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma has worked well.

     

    Sharing his experience of working with Neela Telefilms producer Asit Kumar Modi, Kapoor said, “It’s been a wonderful experience working with him. It’s been seven years now and we have produced more than 1800 episodes of Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma. The show has sustained it ratings beautifully. I really appreciate the time and effort he puts in the show. His commitment toward the show is amazing.”

     

    When queried about the channel’s future projects, Kapoor informed, “There are some shows in the pipeline that we are working on. We sustained as a channel so far because we quickly replace non-performing slots and we shall do the same going forward.”

  • Sab TV to launch comedy reality show on 22 August

    Sab TV to launch comedy reality show on 22 August

    MUMBAI: Come 22 August and Sab TV is all set to launch a comedy reality show called Comedy Superstar.

     

    Slated to launch in the 10 pm slot, the show has roped in Sushmita Sen, Sonu Sood and Shekhar Suman as judges, who will search for India’s next comedy idol.

     

    Produced by Pyramid Productions, Comedy Superstar will see aspiring comedians from different segments of the society battling it out to win the title.

     

    Hosted by Jay Soni and Sudeepa Singh, the format of the show is integrated in terms of stages, elimination, selection process and scoring. Unlike most reality shows, Comedy Superstar will not be open to social media or audience polling. The winner will be named solely based upon the judges’ discretion.

     

    Sab TV senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor said, “We have explored with the format of the show and it is different from what we have done before. We believe in providing a platform to budding talent, so that they can exhibit their flair.”