ITV

Tag: Deepak Dhar

  • Top brands sponsor aam aadmi Bigg Boss’s ‘kahani mein twist’

    Top brands sponsor aam aadmi Bigg Boss’s ‘kahani mein twist’

    MUMBAI: Reputed brands booked their aam aadmi’s Bigg Boss slots well in advance. parle agro appy fizz, Oppo, Maruti Suzuki Swift, UC Browser, Clean and Dry, and Garnier Men Face Wash have hopped on to the bandwagon.

    Till season nine, the audience watched their loved celebrities crying, fighting and dancing in Bigg Boss’s house. One of the most controversial and loved reality shows is all set to hit the television screens from 16 October. The show will be aired at 10.30 Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday at 9pm.

    For the first time, Bigg Boss has opened doors to the common man. The all-seeing all-knowing authoritarian figure of Bigg Boss who monitors the house mates’ every move, this time is all set to amuse and entertain people from two very different universes.

    On one hand you have the very unassuming ‘common man’, on the other hand, the heady ‘celebrity’ brigade all set to experience 100-plus days under one roof. Superstar Salman Khan will return to manoeuvre this unpredictable and tumultuous journey.

    About the launch, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “The common man rules the world. Their choices decide the fate of the nations. Their decisions influence the fate of our shows. It’s time we welcomed them on their favourite show and gave them an experience of a lifetime. Bigg Boss this season will be a like a brand new game altogether. We will see two strikingly contrasting worlds come side by side. While the celebrities will be image conscious, the common man contestants will be uninhibited in their approach. We are excited to tap these unharnessed energies to see what unearths. The meticulous auditions threw up a gamut of people from different walks of life. From a World Bank executive to a stand-up comedian who is also an LGBT activist, from a bus conductor to a security guard, from a self-made millionaire, to people from the UK, the US, Canada, the UAE and the neighbouring countries. After multiple rounds of auditions, we have zeroed in on some unique common man contestants who, when locked away with the choicest celebrities, will raise the bar on entertainment under the watchful eye of our superstar host, Salman Khan.”

    The channels has roped in parle agro appy fizz as presenting sponsor and Oppo Camera phone as ‘powered by’ sponsor, for Bigg Boss. Colors has also roped in Maruti Suzuki Swift as driven by sponsor, UC Browser as trending partner, and Clean and Dry and Garnier Men Face Wash as associate sponsors. The channel has also roped in CP Plus and Ossum Perfumed Body Mist as associate sponsors for its HD Feed.

    Nayak further added, “Amongst the many firsts, this is also the first time when we have sold-out all our sponsorship slots well in advance.”

    Parle Agro joint managing director and CMO Nadia Chauhan said, “parle agro appy fizz is known for its bold, edgy and confident attitude. Bigg Boss echoes this brand persona and its immense popularity amongst the youth coupled with its unique format allowing innovative integration, makes it a perfect platform for strengthening the connect between parle agro appy fizz and its target audience.”

    Oppo India brand director Will Yang said, “Television is one of the most important platforms for Oppo in India to connect with the audience as it has a wide reach amongst the Indian consumers, not just the metro but also expanding to tier 2 and tier 3 cities.”

    Back for the seventh season in a row, superstar host Salman Khan said, “This is my seventh season as host of Bigg Boss. Each season is exceptional in its own way. But, with known faces, you know or at least think you know what to expect. Each time the show has surprises galore. But this time, there is a ‘kahani mein twist’. The presence of the common man promises a most uncommon season. So expect the unexpected.”

    Revealing some intricate details about Bigg Boss, Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “We have conducted auditions in every nook and cranny of the country for this edition of Bigg Boss. Be it entries online, in-person or through mail, we have given the common man every opportunity to make their mark on the show. And the response has been phenomenal! After months of deliberation, we have our final roster of contestants who will become the next entertainment sensations. With no preconceived notions and qualms, the common man contestants will remain uninhibited in their approach, thereby challenging the sensibilities of celebrity contestants whose conduct might be more controlled. So anticipate twists with every turn in this edition of Bigg Boss.”

    As the chosen formidable common man contestants prepare to create history as they step foot inside the Bigg Boss house to nudge and coax the celebrities, the next 100+ days of their lives will be peppered with unadulterated and uninhibited entertainment.

    Commenting on the format of the show, Endemol Shine India managing director and CEO Deepak Dhar said, “Bigg Boss this season is going to be explosive by all means! A set of common people who so far have just been viewers of the show are about to experience a life dictated by Bigg Boss for over three months and will emerge as stars by the end of it all. We have gone above and beyond everything that we have explored over the past seasons to make tweaks in the format such that both – the common man contestants and celebrities have a truly unpredictable journey. The varied contestant mix will add value to the franchise and amplify the entertainment avenues unlike ever before.”

    To promote Bigg Boss across various platforms including OOH, radio integrations including a special tie-up with Radio Mirchi in Gujarat for Navratri, association with Durga Puja pandals, and vada pav and tea stalls in Mumbai, an initiative to revamp the Bigg Boss Whopper at Burger King outlets, and unique Bigg Boss branded cab roadshows in New Delhi and Mumbai.

    On the digital front, Colors has collaborated with popular stand-up comedian and co-founder of SnG Comedy, Varun Thakur to create videos that build intrigue and drive conversations around Bigg Boss. Through his specially curated avatar ‘Vicky’, he will be seen giving tips to the general public on how to make it big inside the Bigg Boss house.

  • Top brands sponsor aam aadmi Bigg Boss’s ‘kahani mein twist’

    Top brands sponsor aam aadmi Bigg Boss’s ‘kahani mein twist’

    MUMBAI: Reputed brands booked their aam aadmi’s Bigg Boss slots well in advance. parle agro appy fizz, Oppo, Maruti Suzuki Swift, UC Browser, Clean and Dry, and Garnier Men Face Wash have hopped on to the bandwagon.

    Till season nine, the audience watched their loved celebrities crying, fighting and dancing in Bigg Boss’s house. One of the most controversial and loved reality shows is all set to hit the television screens from 16 October. The show will be aired at 10.30 Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday at 9pm.

    For the first time, Bigg Boss has opened doors to the common man. The all-seeing all-knowing authoritarian figure of Bigg Boss who monitors the house mates’ every move, this time is all set to amuse and entertain people from two very different universes.

    On one hand you have the very unassuming ‘common man’, on the other hand, the heady ‘celebrity’ brigade all set to experience 100-plus days under one roof. Superstar Salman Khan will return to manoeuvre this unpredictable and tumultuous journey.

    About the launch, Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “The common man rules the world. Their choices decide the fate of the nations. Their decisions influence the fate of our shows. It’s time we welcomed them on their favourite show and gave them an experience of a lifetime. Bigg Boss this season will be a like a brand new game altogether. We will see two strikingly contrasting worlds come side by side. While the celebrities will be image conscious, the common man contestants will be uninhibited in their approach. We are excited to tap these unharnessed energies to see what unearths. The meticulous auditions threw up a gamut of people from different walks of life. From a World Bank executive to a stand-up comedian who is also an LGBT activist, from a bus conductor to a security guard, from a self-made millionaire, to people from the UK, the US, Canada, the UAE and the neighbouring countries. After multiple rounds of auditions, we have zeroed in on some unique common man contestants who, when locked away with the choicest celebrities, will raise the bar on entertainment under the watchful eye of our superstar host, Salman Khan.”

    The channels has roped in parle agro appy fizz as presenting sponsor and Oppo Camera phone as ‘powered by’ sponsor, for Bigg Boss. Colors has also roped in Maruti Suzuki Swift as driven by sponsor, UC Browser as trending partner, and Clean and Dry and Garnier Men Face Wash as associate sponsors. The channel has also roped in CP Plus and Ossum Perfumed Body Mist as associate sponsors for its HD Feed.

    Nayak further added, “Amongst the many firsts, this is also the first time when we have sold-out all our sponsorship slots well in advance.”

    Parle Agro joint managing director and CMO Nadia Chauhan said, “parle agro appy fizz is known for its bold, edgy and confident attitude. Bigg Boss echoes this brand persona and its immense popularity amongst the youth coupled with its unique format allowing innovative integration, makes it a perfect platform for strengthening the connect between parle agro appy fizz and its target audience.”

    Oppo India brand director Will Yang said, “Television is one of the most important platforms for Oppo in India to connect with the audience as it has a wide reach amongst the Indian consumers, not just the metro but also expanding to tier 2 and tier 3 cities.”

    Back for the seventh season in a row, superstar host Salman Khan said, “This is my seventh season as host of Bigg Boss. Each season is exceptional in its own way. But, with known faces, you know or at least think you know what to expect. Each time the show has surprises galore. But this time, there is a ‘kahani mein twist’. The presence of the common man promises a most uncommon season. So expect the unexpected.”

    Revealing some intricate details about Bigg Boss, Colors programming head Manisha Sharma said, “We have conducted auditions in every nook and cranny of the country for this edition of Bigg Boss. Be it entries online, in-person or through mail, we have given the common man every opportunity to make their mark on the show. And the response has been phenomenal! After months of deliberation, we have our final roster of contestants who will become the next entertainment sensations. With no preconceived notions and qualms, the common man contestants will remain uninhibited in their approach, thereby challenging the sensibilities of celebrity contestants whose conduct might be more controlled. So anticipate twists with every turn in this edition of Bigg Boss.”

    As the chosen formidable common man contestants prepare to create history as they step foot inside the Bigg Boss house to nudge and coax the celebrities, the next 100+ days of their lives will be peppered with unadulterated and uninhibited entertainment.

    Commenting on the format of the show, Endemol Shine India managing director and CEO Deepak Dhar said, “Bigg Boss this season is going to be explosive by all means! A set of common people who so far have just been viewers of the show are about to experience a life dictated by Bigg Boss for over three months and will emerge as stars by the end of it all. We have gone above and beyond everything that we have explored over the past seasons to make tweaks in the format such that both – the common man contestants and celebrities have a truly unpredictable journey. The varied contestant mix will add value to the franchise and amplify the entertainment avenues unlike ever before.”

    To promote Bigg Boss across various platforms including OOH, radio integrations including a special tie-up with Radio Mirchi in Gujarat for Navratri, association with Durga Puja pandals, and vada pav and tea stalls in Mumbai, an initiative to revamp the Bigg Boss Whopper at Burger King outlets, and unique Bigg Boss branded cab roadshows in New Delhi and Mumbai.

    On the digital front, Colors has collaborated with popular stand-up comedian and co-founder of SnG Comedy, Varun Thakur to create videos that build intrigue and drive conversations around Bigg Boss. Through his specially curated avatar ‘Vicky’, he will be seen giving tips to the general public on how to make it big inside the Bigg Boss house.

  • Endemol Shine India’s Abhishek Rege to head films as well

    Endemol Shine India’s Abhishek Rege to head films as well

    MUMBAI: Endemol Shine India has elevated Abhishek Rege as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Television & Films. Rege currently leads the television business of the company as COO for Television. One of the leading and most valuable content production companies in India across television, film and digital content, Endemol Shine India is currently the premier content provider in the Sub-Continent, producing over 800 hours of programming annually for the biggest broadcasters across mainstream & regional. The company has also recently forayed into the movie making business and has co-produced films like Brothers, Traffic and Te3n. In his new role, Abhishek will be responsible to nurture and further grow the company’s film business in India, in addition to overlooking Endemol Shine India’s robust Television Business. Abhishek will continue to report into Deepak Dhar, MD and CEO, Endemol Shine India.

    Abhishek has been pivotal in driving growth for the television business at Endemol Shine India by developing franchises of high performing contents/shows, implementing regional diversification and ensuring strategic presence in production across most of the key markets in India. An accomplished professional with an in-depth knowledge in all aspects of the media industry, Abhishek has a proven success record and is proficient in leveraging comprehensive markets and industry knowledge to ensure high momentum business growth, build a high performance team and forecast future business needs. Abhishek is an empowering leader skilled in attracting and retaining industry talent, building positive employee relationships and tailoring management style to accommodate diverse personalities, skill sets and experience levels.

    “Having worked with Abhishek closely for many years, I have great confidence in his understanding and capabilities of the business. Leading such a diverse portfolio in today’s dynamic environment is a mammoth task. Under Abhishek’s able leadership our television business continues to grow and I am confident that he will also evolve our burgeoning film business”, said Deepak Dhar, MD & CEO, Endemol Shine India, about the new appointment.

    “I am delighted to have the opportunity to spearhead the film business for Endemol Shine India. By venturing into films, we have embarked on an ambitious growth path, not just from a business perspective, but also as creative professionals. I look forward to working closely with Deepak to grow the business further.” said Abhishek Rege.

    Prior to Endemol Shine, Abhishek was a Director of Business Operations for Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd, New Jersey, USA and was responsible for its revenues and subscriptions by spearheading strategic, multilingual and local marketing campaigns. Abhishek started his career at Star India where he played a key role in scheduling and acquisition of content for the International beams and for the premium channels for the Tata Sky DTH service in addition to handling key commercial and compliance roles for the STAR channels.

  • Endemol Shine India’s Abhishek Rege to head films as well

    Endemol Shine India’s Abhishek Rege to head films as well

    MUMBAI: Endemol Shine India has elevated Abhishek Rege as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Television & Films. Rege currently leads the television business of the company as COO for Television. One of the leading and most valuable content production companies in India across television, film and digital content, Endemol Shine India is currently the premier content provider in the Sub-Continent, producing over 800 hours of programming annually for the biggest broadcasters across mainstream & regional. The company has also recently forayed into the movie making business and has co-produced films like Brothers, Traffic and Te3n. In his new role, Abhishek will be responsible to nurture and further grow the company’s film business in India, in addition to overlooking Endemol Shine India’s robust Television Business. Abhishek will continue to report into Deepak Dhar, MD and CEO, Endemol Shine India.

    Abhishek has been pivotal in driving growth for the television business at Endemol Shine India by developing franchises of high performing contents/shows, implementing regional diversification and ensuring strategic presence in production across most of the key markets in India. An accomplished professional with an in-depth knowledge in all aspects of the media industry, Abhishek has a proven success record and is proficient in leveraging comprehensive markets and industry knowledge to ensure high momentum business growth, build a high performance team and forecast future business needs. Abhishek is an empowering leader skilled in attracting and retaining industry talent, building positive employee relationships and tailoring management style to accommodate diverse personalities, skill sets and experience levels.

    “Having worked with Abhishek closely for many years, I have great confidence in his understanding and capabilities of the business. Leading such a diverse portfolio in today’s dynamic environment is a mammoth task. Under Abhishek’s able leadership our television business continues to grow and I am confident that he will also evolve our burgeoning film business”, said Deepak Dhar, MD & CEO, Endemol Shine India, about the new appointment.

    “I am delighted to have the opportunity to spearhead the film business for Endemol Shine India. By venturing into films, we have embarked on an ambitious growth path, not just from a business perspective, but also as creative professionals. I look forward to working closely with Deepak to grow the business further.” said Abhishek Rege.

    Prior to Endemol Shine, Abhishek was a Director of Business Operations for Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd, New Jersey, USA and was responsible for its revenues and subscriptions by spearheading strategic, multilingual and local marketing campaigns. Abhishek started his career at Star India where he played a key role in scheduling and acquisition of content for the International beams and for the premium channels for the Tata Sky DTH service in addition to handling key commercial and compliance roles for the STAR channels.

  • Colors’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 7’ to air from 30 Jan; show-based mobile game launched

    Colors’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 7’ to air from 30 Jan; show-based mobile game launched

    MUMBAI: Even as the buzz over the finale of Bigg Boss season 9 is yet to die down, Colors is all set to unleash onto viewers its other popular reality show format – Khatron Ke Khiladi – Kabhi Peeda Kabhi Keeda from 30 January.

     

    The seventh season of the show, which will be hosted by actor Arjun Kapoor, will be aired at 9 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and will feature 14 celebrity contestants.

     

    Additionally, in an attempt to make the show’s experience more personal for viewers, Colors will also unveil a game – Khatron Ke Khiladi – The Game, which will urge players to overcome their fears and dodge high-speed obstacles keeping them engaged through levels of adventure-filled game play.

     

    With a user-friendly interface having Tilt-Based Control Scheme, the game will be available on Android and iOS platforms. Players will also be able to share their performance through social media features like Facebook sharing and Leaderboards. The game has been developed by Hungama Gameshastra.

     

    A change in the show’s format will see the contestants being split into two teams, turning the competition into an open battlefield.

     

    The channel has roped in Tata Motors’ ZICA as the show’s presenting sponsor and Red Chief Shoes as the powered by sponsor.

     

    Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “We have kicked-off the year on a high with the closure of another successful season of Bigg Boss where the choicest celebrities were camping in a house away from prying eyes. And now, with Khatron Ke Khiladi – Kabhi Peeda Kabhi Keeda, it’s time for viewers to bear witness to their favourite celebrities facing their fears and performing stunts in the same time slot on weekends.”

     

    Colors programming head Manisha Sharma added, “This year we have incorporated a new twist in the show’s format by dividing the contestants into two teams. Their perseverance was put to test as they had to not only compete against each other but also play for each other whether or not they liked it. As a host, Arjun Kapoor surpassed all our expectations not only as an entertainer but also as a motivator at every level of difficulty. It was exciting to see the contestants fight all their fears to come out as strong performers.”

     

    Speaking about what’s in-store this season, Endemol Shine India managing director Deepak Dhar said, “With more than 100 people working tirelessly to bring alive the ‘Kabhi Peeda Kabhi Keeda’ theme of Khatron Ke Khiladi this season, it’s one of our most promising seasons thus far. An all-new location like Argentina and an exciting gen-next host Arjun Kapoor, have served as the perfect setting for our teams to up the entertainment quotient. Keeping in tune with the theme and the 14 eager participants, we have introduced a volley of surprises to create edge-of-seat moments for viewers and the unsuspecting Khiladis alike.”

     

    Tata Motors marketing communications & service, passenger vehicles business unit Delna Alvari said, “We continue to work with our partners to create interesting properties for our customer as a part of our Madeforgreat campaign. This is a step towards yet another offering and is delighted to work with Colors. The concept of Khatron Ke Khiladi is to push oneself to overcome new challenges, which resonates with our values as well. With the start of an exciting year for Tata Motors with new products and multiple customer engagement initiatives, planned under our #madeforgreat campaign, we have started the brand transformation journey.”

     

    The 14 contestants this season include Bollywood actors Tanishaa Mukherji, Sidharth Shukla, Vivan Bathena and Sana Saeed, real-life television couple Jay Bhanushali and Mahhi Vij, model Parvathy Omanakuttan, Indian hockey player Yuvraj Walmiki, telly actors Aishwarya Sakhuja, Tina Dutta and Himanshoo Malhotra, and dancing stalwarts Faisal Khan, Mukti Mohan and Raghav Juyal.

     

    On the marketing front, the channel has planned an integrated marketing campaign across mediums including print, cable and DTH, radio, electronic media, OOH and cinema. Also in the media mix are on-ground activations in sync with the Colors Golden Petal Club in nine cities across Uttar Pradesh.

     

    In Mumbai, special Khatron Ke Khiladi announcements are being made on Western Railways and Metros. A robust digital outreach will keep the buzz surrounding the property alive on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube among other platforms.

  • Colors’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 7’ to air from 30 Jan; show-based mobile game launched

    Colors’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 7’ to air from 30 Jan; show-based mobile game launched

    MUMBAI: Even as the buzz over the finale of Bigg Boss season 9 is yet to die down, Colors is all set to unleash onto viewers its other popular reality show format – Khatron Ke Khiladi – Kabhi Peeda Kabhi Keeda from 30 January.

     

    The seventh season of the show, which will be hosted by actor Arjun Kapoor, will be aired at 9 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and will feature 14 celebrity contestants.

     

    Additionally, in an attempt to make the show’s experience more personal for viewers, Colors will also unveil a game – Khatron Ke Khiladi – The Game, which will urge players to overcome their fears and dodge high-speed obstacles keeping them engaged through levels of adventure-filled game play.

     

    With a user-friendly interface having Tilt-Based Control Scheme, the game will be available on Android and iOS platforms. Players will also be able to share their performance through social media features like Facebook sharing and Leaderboards. The game has been developed by Hungama Gameshastra.

     

    A change in the show’s format will see the contestants being split into two teams, turning the competition into an open battlefield.

     

    The channel has roped in Tata Motors’ ZICA as the show’s presenting sponsor and Red Chief Shoes as the powered by sponsor.

     

    Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “We have kicked-off the year on a high with the closure of another successful season of Bigg Boss where the choicest celebrities were camping in a house away from prying eyes. And now, with Khatron Ke Khiladi – Kabhi Peeda Kabhi Keeda, it’s time for viewers to bear witness to their favourite celebrities facing their fears and performing stunts in the same time slot on weekends.”

     

    Colors programming head Manisha Sharma added, “This year we have incorporated a new twist in the show’s format by dividing the contestants into two teams. Their perseverance was put to test as they had to not only compete against each other but also play for each other whether or not they liked it. As a host, Arjun Kapoor surpassed all our expectations not only as an entertainer but also as a motivator at every level of difficulty. It was exciting to see the contestants fight all their fears to come out as strong performers.”

     

    Speaking about what’s in-store this season, Endemol Shine India managing director Deepak Dhar said, “With more than 100 people working tirelessly to bring alive the ‘Kabhi Peeda Kabhi Keeda’ theme of Khatron Ke Khiladi this season, it’s one of our most promising seasons thus far. An all-new location like Argentina and an exciting gen-next host Arjun Kapoor, have served as the perfect setting for our teams to up the entertainment quotient. Keeping in tune with the theme and the 14 eager participants, we have introduced a volley of surprises to create edge-of-seat moments for viewers and the unsuspecting Khiladis alike.”

     

    Tata Motors marketing communications & service, passenger vehicles business unit Delna Alvari said, “We continue to work with our partners to create interesting properties for our customer as a part of our Madeforgreat campaign. This is a step towards yet another offering and is delighted to work with Colors. The concept of Khatron Ke Khiladi is to push oneself to overcome new challenges, which resonates with our values as well. With the start of an exciting year for Tata Motors with new products and multiple customer engagement initiatives, planned under our #madeforgreat campaign, we have started the brand transformation journey.”

     

    The 14 contestants this season include Bollywood actors Tanishaa Mukherji, Sidharth Shukla, Vivan Bathena and Sana Saeed, real-life television couple Jay Bhanushali and Mahhi Vij, model Parvathy Omanakuttan, Indian hockey player Yuvraj Walmiki, telly actors Aishwarya Sakhuja, Tina Dutta and Himanshoo Malhotra, and dancing stalwarts Faisal Khan, Mukti Mohan and Raghav Juyal.

     

    On the marketing front, the channel has planned an integrated marketing campaign across mediums including print, cable and DTH, radio, electronic media, OOH and cinema. Also in the media mix are on-ground activations in sync with the Colors Golden Petal Club in nine cities across Uttar Pradesh.

     

    In Mumbai, special Khatron Ke Khiladi announcements are being made on Western Railways and Metros. A robust digital outreach will keep the buzz surrounding the property alive on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube among other platforms.

  • “We plan to introduce innovative disruptive new age content in 2016:” Deepak Dhar

    “We plan to introduce innovative disruptive new age content in 2016:” Deepak Dhar

    Millennials in India have grown up watching reality television perhaps even before they could pick their favourite subjects or role models.

     

    Shows such as Bigg Boss, Master Chef, The Voice and Emotional Attyachar amongst others need no introduction, nor does their production house Endemol Shine India, which is heralded by one of the brightest minds in India’s reality TV landscape – Deepak Dhar as managing director and CEO.

     

    Dhar joined the production and content creating giant in 2005, after paving a successful career in media with companies like Star TV, MTV, Channel V, etc. Armed with his expertise in reality television, Dhar went on to lead Endemol with some of the most challenging and ambitious projects.

     

    At the launch of Khatron Ke Khiladi’s seventh season, which is slated to go on air on Colors early next year, Dhar speaks to Indiantelevision.com’s Papri Das on the current landscape of reality TV, prospects of producing home grown format shows in India, the company’s relationship with broadcasters and more.

     

    Excerpts:

     

    What’s new in Khatron Ke Khiladi season 7 from the production perspective?

    We have 60 different stunts lined up this season. It’s already a task to set up one and now we have 60 of them to put in place. Not to mention, the scale of each stunt will go up this season, matching international standards. The new locale (Argentina) has also allowed us to try different things and explore various possibilities in terms of the type of tasks. The schedule includes shooting in Argentina in Buenos Aires for 40 days. Our crew of about 160 people and contestants will celebrate their Diwali there.

     

    Have you tried anything new when it comes to production technique?

    We are shooting in Argentina, which is an evolved market from a technical standpoint and that works in our favour. We plan to use drones to shoot some scenes as well. They are not easily used in India as there are restrictions, but shooting in Argentina will enable us to do so. These are stunt friendly locations. We have a few things in mind but we plan to explore them once we reach the shoot location.

     

    Do you notice any new trends in the landscape of reality TV shows in India?

    I feel that reality TV has become a very staple diet for Indian viewers. It has also seen an evolution of sorts. At some point in time it used to be more focused on song and dance. People have now moved on from that and are looking for edgy content dealing with relationships, drama and danger. It is all about making it more real and how the people onscreen can relate to the people watching them.

     

    That is why shows like Bigg Boss, Master Chef, Fear Factor etc are doing well as they feel more real, and connect the audience with a sort of warmth on screen. I wouldn’t call this a new trend but that’s just how things are shaping the landscape.

     

    Are there any plans to introduce new international formats in the Indian market in the near future?

    There are quite a few formats from the Endemol Shine system that we are bringing in. Shows like The Hunted, The Circus of the Celebrities and The Australian Spelling Bee. There are a lot of innovative disruptive new age content that we have to offer, that will hit the screens next year.

     

    Are Indian production houses at a stage where a home grown format can be taken internationally?

    Why not? Largely a lot of song and dance reality formats have been home grown here, for example Dance India Dance (DID). A lot of drama, stunt based shows and game shows do come in from across the globe because we want something tried and tested. We don’t want to invest in something that might have a chance of not working with our audience. I do feel that India has the potential to create a home grown format in the song and dance segment.

     

    We also made something called Big Switch for Bindass a few years ago that involved switching people’s identities and their circumstances. We successfully ran that for two seasons and probably will come up with a third very soon.

     

    As producers do you get enough freedom from the broadcasters?

    As far as Endemol Shine India is concerned, our relationship with broadcasters is mutually beneficial. Colors for example has lapped up our formats for reality television quite well. They have taken Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi to the next level, with a huge push on the marketing and celebrity side as well as by simply scaling up the content. They believe in airing disruptive content and we tend to have a lot of that.

     

    Out of all the reality shows you have produced or been part of, which has been the most challenging?

    They were all challenging and fun in their own right. But if I had to pick and choose, I found producing five seasons of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge a refreshing experience. It was a challenge because it was an unchartered territory for Indian reality TV. We couldn’t pre-calculate the parameters and variables involved that could go right or wrong for the show. It was all new for us. Comedy wasn’t mainstream those days. It was in the realm of smaller events. We picked it up and established an entire genre of reality shows from it.

     

    With VOD platforms like Hotstar, Voot, HOOQ, ErosNow et al emerging as the new medium for content consumption, how is Endemol positioning itself in the programming ecosystem?

    We are already creating and producing digital content formats for some of these OTT players. We have brought in formats from our international partners because those are evolved markets familiar with OTT and digital content. We are in talks with some of these players to see how we can start mounting them up.

     

    Is India finally catching up to short format fiction shows?

    The shortening of content is bound to happen due to fragmentation of mediums and due to the gradually reducing attention span of viewers. People are getting restless. They want to see the start and end of a scripted program and binge watching is becoming a concept as well. People now want to watch and complete a series maybe within one or two weekends or maybe over a month. With this viewing behaviour spreading across genres, producers must also shift and re-think in that direction, and go for more and more finite shows.

     

    What does week 41 and 42 BARC data mean for you as a content provider?

    It’s still too early to comment or even start shifting gears based on the data. Let the ecosystem stabilise and settle a bit. It is just about stabilising, so we must wait before forming any opinions based on it or our content strategy. The new numbers will throw us new trends as well, and we are keeping an eye on them for new possible show concepts.

  • Colors confident of unleashing ‘Bigg Boss’ juggernaut at 10.30 pm

    Colors confident of unleashing ‘Bigg Boss’ juggernaut at 10.30 pm

    MUMBAI: Come 11 October, 2015 and the definition of prime time viewing on Indian television history will be officially redefined as Bigg Boss season 9 will be aired in the late time slot of 10.30 pm. Accustomed with the 9 pm slot, the show has established itself as one of the finest property in the general entertainment genre, but as was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, this year due to the super performance of Colors’ existing prime time shows, the channel’s programming team was forced to postpone Bigg Boss to the 10.30 pm slot.

     

    The moment the new time slot became public knowledge, the immediate presumption that emerged was the possibility of content edging towards the adult category with more violence and at times even vulgar. However, Colors CEO Raj Nayak has pooh-poohed all such speculations. He said, “The strong point of Bigg Boss in the last few seasons has been its establishment as a family viewing entertainment entity, which helped us grow our ratings. We are not going to compromise with that. So the show will continue to be a family viewing entity.”

     

    The press conference for the official launch of the show was off with a flying start with a satirical banter between Bigg Boss host Salman Khan and Nayak. As reported earlier by this website, the show’s theme this year is Double Trouble. Khan in his inimitable style candidly asked Nayak what double trouble means to him and when does it start. Nayak smilingly replied, “For me double trouble starts with the start of April, when I start talking to your (Salman Khan) agency and they quote me a rate double of what we paid last season.” 

     

    The lighthearted banter continued throughout and both Nayak and Khan were sportingly part of it. When Endemol India MD and CEO Deepak Dhar was introduced Nayak reminded the audience in a tongue and cheek manner that it was not only Salman’s fee that gets doubled every year, even Endemol’s remuneration takes a substantial hike.

     

    Speaking about the extension of prime time, Nayak said, “I think today prime time goes on till 12 o’clock in the night, the success of Comedy Nights is a big example of that.”

     

    Speculations were also rife that courtesy to the late night premiering of the show, the ratings and the ad rates may face a blow. However, Nayak is unperturbed. “Bigg Boss is Colors’ biggest show. If we don’t believe in the fact that it will be successful, why would we invest such huge money? I would have liked Bigg Boss to come in at 10 o’clock but am confident about it in the 10.30 pm slot too. Research shows that in urban areas people go back to home a little late and hence 10 pm would have been the best time to unwind with a one hour show. But with God’s grace, we have the problem of plenty and a slot leader (Yeh Meri Ashique) at 10 pm so we cannot disturb leading show and put Bigg Boss in place of that.”

     

    Throwing light on the show’s target group, Nayak said, “Target audience is an exaggerated and over spoken factor in India where we have a huge percentile of single TV houses. Bigg Boss by default or by design appeals more towards the younger audience than the older. The older audience watches it but seldom speaks about it. People who normally never watch Hindi GECs turn out to be Bigg Boss followers. So overall the show caters to a diverse audience across all age groups.”

     

    Colors has a strong social media analysis team, which analyses each and every movement across all the platforms. If the analysis depicts an addressable issue, the programming team immediately looks into it, which results to better sustainability. “We may not make a change immediately but we do follow them continuously. We have a separate infrastructure to check between spam and genuine feedback. We take social media feedback very seriously,” added Nayak.

     

    As was reported earlier, the presented by, powered by and driven by slots in the sponsorship inventory have already been sold to Snapdeal, Oppo and Maruti Suzuki respectively. Commenting on advertisers’ reaction on the time change, Nayak said, “The sponsors are demonstrating faith in what we are doing and the fact that we already have a majority of our sponsors on board, is proof of that.”

      

    Endemol CEO and MD said, “The concept of Bigg Boss has always kept the audiences intrigued. The theme of ‘Double Trouble’ promises to offer double the fun and entertainment with various twists and surprises. This year too fans of this biggest reality show format will be hooked to the TV, as this season the contestants will be put in unanticipated situations that will make an interesting watch for the viewers. The production value of the show will be more enormous and the expertise of the team working on the show will leave no stone unturned to offer unlimited doze of entertainment.”

     

    When quizzed if 10.30 pm slot was a pressure factor for Endemol, Dhar said, “Pressure factor, yes, because it’s a new time slot that we are not yet used to but the pressure is there every year. Bigg Boss at 9 pm was up against the biggest shows of the country and it delivered commendable ratings. So I don’t see a reason why it won’t deliver at 10:30 pm. The time change is a challenge as well as an opportunity.”

     

    Concurring with Nayak on the prime time definition, Dhar said, “People are now creating content for 11 pm and 11.30 pm slots. So the traditional definition of prime time is no longer relevant. People now, specially from the urban areas are ready to watch television till late. And a show like Bigg Boss where it’s more of unwinding than using one’s brains, a time slot later down the night should be comfortable.”

     

    Snapdeal senior vice president marketing Srinivas Murthy said, “Big Boss is only getting bigger and better with every season. We joined hands with television’s most popular show last year and engaged with our audiences on a daily basis through innovative in-programme integration. We are very excited to partner with Big Boss Nau and look forward to great response from the viewers this season too.”

     

    Speaking on his return as the host of the show for the sixth time, Khan said, “This season with Double Trouble being the flavour, contestants have no choice but to double up and face the trouble, or remain disconnected and invite trouble! Bigg Boss Nau comes with the promise of unlimited and unadulterated entertainment, which will create a strong bond between viewers and the contestants fuelled by fun, empathy and sometimes sympathy.”

     

    Oppo Mobiles India CEO Mike Wang added, “We are pleased to renew our association with the immensely popular show Bigg Boss this season. We firmly believe that this partnership will help establish our reach across India giving us an opportunity to connect with a wider audience. There is no platform better than entertainment in India and we wish the show a huge success.”

     

    Whatever Nayak and his team at Colors are churning out these days, is turning into gold. With the channel climbing up the ratings chart to become the number one Hindi GEC recently as per BARC as well as TAM data, the Bigg Boss entertainment juggernaut comes at a perfect time. It now remains to be seen if the show’s new time slot manages to sustain ratings or better still, enhance it even further.

  • ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi: Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns’ gets an impressive opening

    ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi: Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns’ gets an impressive opening

    MUMBAI: Khatron Ke Khiladi: Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns, produced by Endemol India that premiered on 7 February, 2015 has yet again won the hearts of the audience. The captivating launch episode garnered a stupendous 4.01 TVR for the Week six of TAM TV ratings. The sixth season of the reality show promises to be even edgier and contestants will be seen performing death defying stunts at the scenic locales of Cape Town, South Africa.

     

    Hosted by Rohit Shetty, the show’s premier weekend, has grabbed more eyeballs than The Comedy Show with Kapil Sharma. The reality show was the sixth most viewed in the genre and received viewership of 8,593 TVTs. With the danger & entertainment factor doubled in the current season, Rohit Shetty and Endemol India has designed over 60 nerve wracking stunts to enrapture their audience. In this season the action quotient will be higher than ever before and the audience adrenalin is sure to reach its peak as fear will follow the contestants 24×7 in the ‘Darr Ka Ghar’. The format has some interesting twists this season and will have a special theme every week to add the surprise element.

     

    Endemol India managing director Deepak Dhar, “The action packed blockbuster season of Khatron Ke Khiladi: Darr Ka Blockbuster Returns has received an impressive opening. We are glad that viewers have liked the debut episode and will have more exciting and adrenalin pumping episodes in the coming weeks. The 4.01 TVR for the opening weekend episode is very encouraging and we are assertive of captivating the audience interest with some edgy stunts and nail biting moments.”

  • ‘Parivarik’ Bigg Boss 8 ready to take off

    ‘Parivarik’ Bigg Boss 8 ready to take off

    MUMBAI: It is that time of the year when everyone will rush back home to switch on their television sets to watch 12 known faces stuck in the house. 

    Yes, one of the biggest non-fiction properties of the Indian television industry – Bigg Boss – is back on Colors. Come 21 September, in its eighth season, the show will have in store a never-seen-before thrilling adventure which promises to be all about bumps, jolts and spilled drinks.

    Pieced together by Endemol India, the bhai of Bollywood, Salman Khan, will host the show which is themed around aviation with the tagline ‘Bigg Boss aath, sabki lagegi vaat’.

    12 first-class passengers and newsmakers from all walks of life, will block their seats in this one of a kind aircraft, forge their own connections and survive in this airspace. So are contestants selected as per the theme? “No,” comes a quick reply from Colors CEO Raj Nayak. “Contestants are not chosen according to the theme. We choose contestants from different walks of life and then map them. There are certain characteristics we are looking for as we don’t want boring people in the house.” Thorough research is conducted to analyse their way of thinking and behaviour.

    He recalls the moment that two years ago after being the victim of too many controversies, the channel had decided to change the theme and go parivarik with the show. Like always, he believes the challenge is to not show content which can be uncomfortable for families. So, the channel takes the decision of editing the content.

    “At the end of the day one must realise that contestants are recorded 24 hour and it is not that things don’t happen in the house. But we will not show such things on-air. Obviously there are dos and don’ts, but on television we are very careful. And ever since we made it parivarik, we have not got a single complain,” says Nayak.

    Nayak further goes on to say that he has received a feedback saying it is an educational programme on human psychology. “For me, we have looked it as an education programme on human psychology and at the same time it is entertaining and see different sides of human beings. It teaches you a lot of things. So, here there is an opportunity for you to sit down and say that I am doing a crash course on human psychology in 100 days,” laughs Nayak.

    He states that the channel does not have any control on how the contestants behave on the show. According to Nayak it is a challenge because it is not scripted and there is no interference from the channel’s side even if things get ugly. The only communication between the channel and the contestants is through the Bigg Boss and the various tasks. “We create some tasks which may create friction, romance, etc. And if it gets little boring, we cover it by doing dance competition. We cannot control how they behave in what they do,” says Nayak.

    Considered to be the most expensive property on TV, the spend goes into the set, contestants, technological equipment, the celebrity host and marketing. According to sources, the production cost per season is around Rs 180 crore.

    Endemol managing director Deepak Dhar believes that the show has won over viewers across age groups. “The audiences revel in the erratic format of Bigg Boss and with every season we reinvent ourselves to make the show as unpredictable and entertaining as ever.” Also the creators have realised that the Khan as host transcends from a seven year old to a 75 year old.

    After five-long years, the channel has got on-board Snapdeal as its new presenting sponsor instead of Vodafone India. In a deal which is speculated to be worth Rs 35 crore, this is a giant leap for the e-commerce site which had previously sponsored reality shows on MTV including MTV Roadies.

    Talking about the partnership, Nayak says that several e-commerce firms wanted to get on board but they snapped the deal. He also added that the Bigg Boss 8 team approached the company for the sponsorship. The deal is currently for only one year and the CEO hopes to continue the association in the future.

    Excited with this new collaboration Snapdeal CEO Kunal Bahl says, “The money is well spent. Hopefully this is the beginning to a long relationship. This is the right show for our young brand to reach the right audience. Sure that we will get a good return for our investment.”

    With the huge competition in the e-commerce space and the stringent government policies, India-based online retailers like Snapdeal have been looking for various new ways for raising funds. This partnership is going to make perfect brand recognition for Snapdeal.

    The channel has also roped in Oppo Mobiles as the powered by sponsor. Moreover, Colors has created a new category called ‘Driven by’ and has roped Maruti Suzuki. Other associate sponsors are Garnier Men, TVS Motors, Cardekho.com, Bisleri Urzza and JK Tyres.

    The channel is not looking at getting more sponsors on-board. “There are lots of people who may not be able to afford the tickets as of Rs 10-12 crore. Plus we have a lot of advertisers who are our regular patrons, so we want to give them an opportunity to also be a part of Bigg Boss,” Nayak reveals that sponsors consume normally 65 per cent of the inventory. As for the ad rates this time, the channel has increased its overall pricing by almost 30 per cent as compared to the previous seasons.

    According to sources, each associate sponsor pays Rs 12-15 crore. Spot rates range from Rs 4.5-5 lakh per 10 seconds in episodes that feature Salman Khan, while other episodes command Rs 3.4-4 lakh per 10 seconds. For the channel to breakeven, ad revenues are pegged around Rs 350 crore.

    On the marketing front, hundred per cent consumer entertainment being the mantra of Airlines #BB8, the marketing strategies will revolve around increasing the market penetration and connecting with new consumers.

    The route will be encompassing all the mediums across 200 cities and towns to encourage repeat flying for the viewers. For a higher resonance radio stations across 30 cities will be tapped. For build-up, promotional content will be plugged in across 30 channels and, for a glaring visibility and tune in, an attractive outdoor campaign will don the high walls at strategic locations in key cities.

    On order for the consumers to get better passenger information an interesting digital plan has been floated. Viewers can source the entire daily dose via Facebook and Twitter. While FB will have a fun Bigg Boss themed app to test the survival strategies of the player, Twitter will leak live information 24*7. The website www.colors.in will have uncensored videos and a Khabri who will blog live updates. Moreover, a mobile app will beam the live feed to keep the viewers tuned in on the go.

    This time Snapdeal is very keen keeping in mind the virtual space. “You will find a lot of engagement activities on the digital space where you will be able to get Snapdeal vouchers, gifts and much more exciting stuff,” adds Nayak.

    Unlike last year, where Bigg Boss videos where also available on YouTube, this year the channel has banned it.

    About the expectations from this season, Nayak believes that he is very superstitious with numbers. “Every time you launch a show you hope that it will be better than the previous season. Previous season had a very good opening, so we think this season should do it even better. The promos we have launched this time and the amount of buzz we have got is the highest we have ever seen either on social media or general feedback.”

    On Twitter, Nayak confidently says that there is no other show in this country that trends as much as Bigg Boss does the moment the show is launched. “I don’t have to spend much money also on marketing because the buzz gets created on its own,” concludes Nayak.