Tag: Indian Idol

Inside SPNI’s GEC Strategy: Balance, Reach & Relevance

MUMBAI: In a fast-evolving television landscape, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has steadily strengthened its general entertainment channel (GEC) portfolio with SET and Sab, achieving measurable gains in reach, GRPs, and market share. The content mix resonates with both mass and premium audiences – powered by a strategy that blends high-impact formats, emotional storytelling, and regional nuance.
As the genre undergoes broader shifts, SET and Sab have quietly outperformed, offering consistent growth in a space many consider saturated.

In this candid exchange with Indiantelevision.com, Nachiket Pantvaidya, Business Head – SET, and Ajay Bhalwankar, Business Head – Sab, decode the engines behind this momentum, how the channels retain distinct identities while complementing each other – and why it’s time the industry reframed its view of SPNI’s GEC play.Excerpts from the exchange:

On what’s driving the growth momentum with SET and Sab in a tough environment.

Nachiket Pantvaidya & Ajay Bhalwankar: SPNI’s Hindi GEC portfolio, led by Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and Sony SAB, has continued to grow steadily despite a challenging industry environment. What’s driving this momentum is a clear strategy built on quality content, smart scheduling, and a deep understanding of our viewers.

Sony Entertainment Television grew its reach by 10 percent year-on-year, even as the genre declined by seven percent. Sab has led pay Hindi GEC reach since early 2025 and continues to do so. Together, the two channels have helped SPNI grow its market share from 28.8 percent to 31.2 percent in FY25, even as the genre overall contracted by four percent.

At the core of our approach is the belief that data should guide our decisions, but it is emotion that builds loyalty. SET delivers high-impact fiction and marquee non-fiction formats like Kaun Banega Crorepati and Indian Idol, while Sab continues to connect deeply with audiences through shows like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma, Veer Hanuman, Uff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil, Pushpa Impossible and Wagle Ki Duniya.

Even during IPL this year, when most GECs saw a dip, SET posted a 14 percent GRP growth in comparison to the previous IPL period. That kind of performance is not accidental. It reflects how consistently we’ve been able to deliver stories that resonate, adapt quickly to viewer feedback, and stay culturally relevant across markets. This twin-engine model works because SET and Sab do more than co-exist. They strengthen each other through shared intelligence and differentiated appeal.

Ultimately, it’s our commitment to meaningful content, backed by clear positioning and data-led agility, that has helped us grow where others have seen decline.

On what makes SET and Sab work so well together and how does the network balance their distinct brand identities while growing the two channels.

Nachiket Pantvaidya & Ajay Bhalwankar: SET and Sab succeed together because they are built to serve different emotional needs across the viewing spectrum. SET focuses on aspirational, high-stakes drama and premium non-fiction formats such as Kaun Banega Crorepati, Indian Idol, and Crime Patrol. Sab, on the other hand, connects with audiences through warmth, humour, and everyday optimism, offering slice-of-life stories that feel both familiar and refreshing.

This clear emotional positioning is what sets the portfolio apart. Sab leads the NCCS A Urban segment with a 26.8 percent market share. Rather than overlapping, SET and Sab complement each other with differentiated content across genres and time slots. SET creates event-led viewing moments, while Sab builds daily engagement and family connect.

Our approach is not just to avoid duplication but to create distinct value through co-existence. Each channel strengthens the other by fulfilling a different viewer need. This dual-channel strategy helps SPNI cater to a complete audience journey, from weekday routine to weekend entertainment, and from urban metros to heartland homes. Together, SET and Sab offer a balanced and powerful entertainment ecosystem.

On what has helped SET overtake Zee and climb to #4 in key HSM markets.

Nachiket Pantvaidya: SET’s climb to the number four position in key HSM markets like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh is the result of deliberate and sustained strategy. We have moved away from legacy storytelling and embraced a more diverse content mix that includes high-stakes drama, thrillers, devotional shows, and reality-led programming. This variety has broadened our appeal across audience segments.

In the affluent NCCS A segment, SET has overtaken Zee in FY25 since September, which signals a shift in preference among premium viewers. This change reflects the success of our efforts to position SET as a destination for both aspirational and emotionally engaging content.

In Maharashtra and Gujarat, for instance, we have seen strong traction for titles with faith-based and family-centric themes. These narratives resonate deeply with local audiences and help build lasting viewer connections.

Even during challenging periods like the IPL season, when GEC performance typically dips, SET posted 14 percent GRP growth in comparison to previous IPL period. That kind of result is driven by content that is both culturally relevant and emotionally compelling. By refreshing our flagship shows and staying attuned to evolving viewer expectations, SET has managed to stay contemporary, relevant, and ahead of the curve.

On what has led to Sab emerging as the most-watched GEC among affluent urban audiences and how does it continue doing so in such a difficult segment.

Ajay Bhalwankar: Sab’s leadership in the affluent urban segment is the result of clear intent and consistent execution. We currently command a 26.8 percent market share among NCCS 15–50 A urban audiences, significantly ahead of Star Plus at 24.9 percent and Colors at 20.8 percent. In terms of GRPs, Sab leads with 156, again surpassing both Star Plus and Colors.

What drives this performance is our commitment to values-driven, relatable storytelling. Our shows reflect the priorities of today’s urban households. Rather than leaning on exaggerated drama, Sab tells stories rooted in real-life dilemmas, creating characters that feel familiar and trustworthy.

Programs like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma, Veer Hanuman, Uff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil, Wagle Ki Duniya and Pushpa Impossible are crafted with cultural intelligence and emotional honesty. They resonate with viewers who are looking for content that mirrors their own lives, rather than offering pure escapism. In a landscape often dominated by melodrama, Sab stands apart by delivering humour, heart, and humanity. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma is the top show in Week 26 with 2.6 TVR in 15-50 A (Top 7 Pay Hindi GEC channels) completing 4444 episodes.

This is why Sab has become the preferred choice for decision-making urban audiences. It feels like a companion, not just a channel, and that connection is what keeps us ahead.

On what has led to high value regional markets like Maharashtra and Gujarat becoming strongholds for SPNI’s GEC cluster.

Ajay Balwankar & Nachiket Pantvaidya: Our performance in Maharashtra and Gujarat has been shaped by a consistent focus on emotional relevance and cultural resonance. SPNI commands 17 percent higher viewership in HGEC than JioStar in Maharashtra, which is India’s most valuable Hindi-speaking market. Sab is the number one GEC in both Maharashtra and Gujarat. The gap between Sab and our nearest competitor in Gujarat is 40%.
The success comes from understanding that while our content remains linguistically neutral, it is emotionally hyperlocal. We take a region-sensitive approach to casting, dialogue, and storytelling. In Maharashtra, for example, we emphasise themes of devotion and tradition. In Gujarat, the focus shifts more toward family bonds and community values.

Upcoming titles like Ganesh Kartikey are designed with these cultural touchpoints in mind, especially for Maharashtra’s devotional audience. Similarly, Chalo Bulava Aaya Hai taps into rituals that hold deep emotional meaning across demographics.

What sets us apart is that this isn’t about short-term spikes. Our success in these regions reflects long-term viewer engagement built on trust and emotional proximity.

On how are SET and Sab evolving their content to meet the viewers expectation of stories that are fresh but emotionally grounded.

Ajay Balwankar & Nachiket Pantvaidya: Audiences today are looking for stories that feel new but still speak to their hearts. At SPNI, we have focused on delivering genre diversity with emotional consistency. Whether the theme is faith, family, humour, or aspiration, our stories remain anchored in Indian values.

On SET, we are expanding into a wider narrative space with a strong upcoming line-up that includes a thriller, a mythological family saga like Ganesh Kartikey, a devotional drama in Chalo Bulava Aaya Hai, and talent-led formats such as Super Dancer 5 and Indian Idol. Shows like Bade Achhe Lagte Hain will continue to explore mature, layered relationships, while Aami Dakini brings in a unique regional-literary depth that is rarely seen on mainstream Hindi television.

Sab, on the other hand, continues to excel with long-running favourites like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,Pushpa Impossible, and Wagle Ki Duniya, along with exciting new launches like Veer Hanuman, Uff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil, and the upcoming Itti Si Khushi. Shows like Pushpa Impossible demonstrate that socially relevant storytelling can be both thoughtful and uplifting.

We are also seeing a clear uptick in viewership among NCCS 15–50 A urban audiences, which confirms the growing appetite for emotionally intelligent, value-driven content. Our aim is not just to entertain, but to spark reflection, conversation, and connection.

On the new shows that are coming up on Sab and SET and how they will strengthen the network’s leadership position.

Ajay Balwankar & Nachiket Pantvaidya: We are genuinely excited about the upcoming line-up across both SET and Sab because each show has been carefully curated to deepen our connection with audiences and reinforce our leadership in the Hindi GEC space.

On SET, Super Dancer 5 returns as a proven platform that celebrates young talent, while Indian Idol continues to be a nationwide celebration of musical diversity. These formats reaffirm our stronghold in non-fiction and help bring in new audiences beyond core fiction viewers. Ganesh Kartikey is a large-scale mythological drama that brings devotion and spectacle together with modern production values.

On Sab we are looking forward to Uff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil, a light-hearted exploration of modern relationships, and Itti Si Khushi, which is based on an internationally acclaimed format and has been adapted with emotional depth and local insight.

These are not just new launches. They are shows built with the intention to become long-term anchors within our GEC universe. Whether through cultural resonance, emotional engagement, or mass appeal, each of these titles strengthens our ability to deliver content that is fresh, meaningful, and built to last.

On whether the industry gives SPNI’s GEC cluster enough credit and whether it is it time to reframe the narrative around the network’s category leadership.

Ajay Balwankar & Nachiket Pantvaidya: We believe the time has come to reframe the narrative. The performance of SPNI’s GEC cluster speaks for itself, yet the industry conversation has not fully caught up with the facts.

SET has climbed to the number four position in key HSM markets, overtaking Zee TV, which is a significant shift. SAB has consistently delivered the highest GRPs post-Covid and ranked number one across multiple weeks in the HSM Urban 2+ segment. Our market share in HGEC in FY25 has risen to 31.2 percent, even as the genre experienced a decline.

The metrics are clear, and the momentum is real. What needs to evolve now is the perception. It is time to recognise SPNI’s GEC cluster not as a quiet contender, but as a consistent leader in both reach and relevance.

July 13, 2025
‘Indian Idol’ set to return with season 13 from 10 September on Sony

Mumbai: Sony Entertainment Television is all set to launch season 13 of its flagship singing reality show, Indian Idol. The show will premiere on 10 September and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

This year’s campaign “Phir saath aane ka bahana hai, ab mausam musicana hai” brought alive the celebration of music and togetherness.

The show will be hosted by Aditya Narayan and the ultimate trio – Himesh Reshammiya, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani – will reprise their roles as judges once again. The channel noted that they are here to make the ‘mausam musicana!’

SET head-programming (non-fiction), channel Sonal Yadav said, “Indian Idol is a revolutionary show that has set a precedent since its launch. The platform has given recognition to many aspiring singers who have always dreamt of making it big in the world of music. With Season 13, our core focus is to highlight real and aspirational singers who bring out variety and uniqueness. Through the multi-city on-ground auditions this year, we have truly managed to scout some exceptional talent. With the expertise Himesh Reshammiya, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani bring to the table, Indian Idol is ready to make the ‘mausam musicana.’ Also, collaborating with Fremantle has always been a pleasure, and with season 13, we yet again look forward to a successful season of Indian Idol.”

Under the production of Fremantle, the singing reality show has brought families together, making it a wholesome viewing experience. With incomparable voices and inspiring stories, the show is the one-stop singing platform that provides unlimited entertainment and caters to viewers across age-groups.

Fremantle India managing director Aradhana Bhola commented, “Indian Idol isn’t just a show for us, it is a promise of limitless talent, opportunities, and lives changed for the better, forever. We can’t wait to bring forth the diverse singing talent and inspiring life stories of this season to the viewers and continue our legacy of having them find a special place in the hearts of millions of Indians.”

Also, this year, the show hosted the multi-city on-ground auditions in 11 cities after a gap of two years and witnessed overwhelming participation. Like every year, in its 13th season, the show is set to bring to the fore diverse musical talent from across India, bringing forth the country’s rich multi-cultural background. Right from genres like pop, classical, fusion, folk, opera, and more, this season will see some exceptionally talented Davedaars bring out versatility, rhythm, and soul through their singing talent.

September 9, 2022
Will non-fiction shows witness growth post IPL?

MUMBAI: IPL 2020 was the first major live sporting event since the lockdown began. Despite a delayed start owing to the pandemic, it proved to be a respite for Indian audiences who were wilting on a diet of TV news and reruns. Not to mention that it gave a new lease on life to advertisers to once again build a connect with consumers and attain the pre-Covid reach levels. BARC reported that the 13th edition of the league, which has an estimated brand value of $6.8 billion drew record television and digital viewership. The IPL opener was viewed by 200 million plus audiences and a staggering 31.57 million watched the tournament, clocking a 23 per cent rise in eyeballs.

This year, marquee non-fiction properties Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) season 12, Bigg Boss season 14, Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi, India’s Best Dancer, The Kapil Sharma Sharma, Super Dancer were launched while the IPL was underway. Indian Idol season 12 started after IPL ended. The upcoming non-fiction shows are Taare Zameen Par and Dance Deewane 3. While the league may have gone relatively unscathed in terms of sponsors and revenue (BCCI being cagey about financials notwithstanding), several media experts had pointed out that the overlap of the tournament with the festive season and audience shift to OTT platforms would impact the revenues of television networks.

By the by, both shows managed to rope in a sizeable number of sponsors and partners (KBC – 10, Bigg Boss – 15). But they failed to make a splash in their opening week – BARC data reflects that none of them broke into the top five shows in the Hindi GEC category. However, the report also stated that Bigg Boss clocked 3.9 billion minutes in the same period, the highest in the last three seasons.

BARC is yet to release data on how these shows have performed since they premiered this season.

But the question remains that with IPL over, viewers of the non-fiction genre need the next big thing for their daily dose of entertainment. Will this quest for serotonin give a boost to the genre and viewership?

The industry is divided, where some believe that now the IPL is over, things will get better for non-fiction shows in terms of ratings and revenue. Others think that overall market sentiment is low with the festive season behind us. Revival will come, but not before January 2021.

The Media Ant CEO and founder Samir Chaudhary said, “Both KBC and Bigg Boss have not performed as compared to last year. IPL definitely has a role to play, given that both shows launched during the tournament, which is an unusual scenario. Diwali was the peak season for all advertisers, but now overall ad volumes have gone down. The volume was driven a lot by automobile and e-commerce companies, and both have now come out of their peaks. We are expecting the volumes to come back by mid-December when the second round of sale comes up."

He further qualified this by saying that since the IPL is over, the shows may see traction and gain a new set of advertisers by mid-December, but that remains to be seen.

Wavemaker India managing partner Mansi Datta echoed the sentiment and added, “Post IPL (data for four days post IPL), these programs have seen an increase in viewership across different cohorts by 5-15 per cent. This indicates that the audience viewership movement is to be further expected across both genders/age groups. This would also hold the case as momentum for these episodes gain, the viewership will climb.”

Traditionally, Dussehra-Diwali is the reaping period for TV networks as they launch big-ticket fiction and non-fiction properties, helping them attract advertisers. Estimates are that marketers signed checks to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore during the festival period last year. The pandemic and the lockdowns over the past six months have resulted in Indian advertising expenditure shrinking by as much as 39 per cent since. Soothsayers predict that 2019’s festive season ad-ex will not be breached this year.

Elara Capital vice president Karan Taurani observed that both ratings and ad volumes of non-fiction shows have gone up but the issue is pricing. Viewership ratings have increased by 10 to 15 per cent but compared to last year the rates are still low. “From October to November, the TV advertising segment grew by 10 to 12 per cent. But post festivities, the entire media plan was put on hold based on how the market functions in terms of consumption pattern. The growth was not sustainable.”

Taurani projects December to be slightly down in terms of advertising. “But hopefully, January and February will see some relief and the market will bounce back,” he added.

In terms of ad volumes, both properties have brought in a lot of advertisers, in fact the difference in the total number of advertisers onboard with the IPL and Bigg Boss was just 10 per cent. Others emphasise that these programmes got new sponsors, even those that stayed away from IPL, and the inventory level is almost full.

Havas Media buying national head R Venkatasubramanian pointed out that now advertisers have the option to choose between HD and SD platforms separately. Hence, the number of advertisers are more in both properties, a win-win for brands and channels.

During the pandemic, the lines have blurred between primetime and non-primetime. Content consumption patterns have also changed. In an average household, while women and family audiences have been glued to fiction serials, young viewers have taken either to the IPL or to online content that is slowly attracting Hindi-speaking viewers.

Omnicom Media Group chief investment officer Mamatha Morvankar shared that initial trends post the closure of IPL 2020 are certainly encouraging. Both KBC and Bigg Boss, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, have shown an uptick in TVRs. In the case of Bigg Boss, the increase was largely attributed to time spent by viewers, whereas for KBC the surge was both with regards to reach and time spent. KBC had its one crore winners in the weeks following IPL and that aspect would have had a positive impact on ratings.

A media professional, on the condition of anonymity, mentioned that Bigg Boss – which is already on the verge of completing two months – is introducing new formats and twists to lure viewers. And while advertisers are coming on board, they’re doing so on discounted rates.

But despite challenges, reality shows are slowly but steadily gaining the power to create an impact in the wake of IPL. Morvankar explained, “This is also showing in terms of the ad volumes. Both these reality programs are signing on new sponsors post the IPL 2020 season and going full-on their inventory. KBC has even gotten an extension of four weeks, now stretching to end in January, which should also extend the ratings momentum. These early signs are promising enough for us to anticipate that impact reality shows such as these are set to take the coming quarter by storm.”

If reports are to be believed, the IPL has already eaten up a Rs 2,500-crore slice of the ad-ex pie. But some experts still hold that non-fiction shows are on a growth trajectory. It will be interesting to see if the genre will hit it out of the park in the coming months or if it’s samay samaapt for it.

December 9, 2020
Sun TV, Star Maa among most watched non-Hindi channels across genres at close of 2018

BENGALURU: At its normal number one position and at third rank in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 52 of 2018 were Sun TV and Star Maa respectively. BARC’s weekly list for top 10 channels across genres for week 52 of 2018 (Saturday, 22 December 2018 to Friday, 28 December 2018) had five Hindi GEC, two channels each from the Hindi movies and Telugu genres, and one channel from the Tamil GEC genre. From the network’s perspective, there were three channels each from Star India and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel), two channels from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and one channel each from the Sun TV Network and Viacom 18 Media Networks Pvt Ltd (Viacom 18).

As mentioned above at its normal first rank in week 52 of 2018 was Sun TV with 1,012.658 million weekly impressions as compared to 973.093 weekly impressions in week 51. Sun TV also led BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry market and four programmes in BARC’s list of top 5 Tamil programmes during primetime in these markets based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week under review were aired on Sun TV.

Continuing at rank 2 from the previous week in week 52 of 2018 was Zeel’s FTA Zee Anmol with 785.124 million weekly impressions as compared to 766.527 million weekly impressions in week 50. Zee Anmol was also ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs’ in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked ninth in HSM (U). The channel was the most watched Hindi channel across genres during the week. The Balaji Telefilms produced soap Kumkum Bhagya was ranked first in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Another two programmes aired on the channel – Mahek and Ek Main aur Ek Tu were ranked fourth and third respectively in HSM (R).

Climbing up three places to third rank was Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa with 782.262 million weekly impressions in week 52 of 2018 as compared with 683.707 million weekly impressions in week 51. Star Maa was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Five programmes that were aired on Star Maa were present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in the same market.

Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV also retained rank 4 in week 52 of 2018 with 700.671 million weekly impressions as compared to 752.121 million weekly impressions in week 51. Zee TV was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs’ in HSM (U+R) and third in HSM (U), and was ranked seventh in HSM (R). Two programmes that were aired on Zee TV- Kumkum Bhagya, and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were at fifth and third ranks respectively in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U). Kundali Bhagya was ranked fourth respectively in HSM (U+R).

Viacom 18’s Hindi movies channel entered BARC’s across genres weekly list in week 52 of 2018 with 690.626 million weekly impressions at fifth rank. The channel ended 2018 with a bang – all the top five movies in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi movies programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) were aired on Rishtey Cineplex. Rishtey Cineplex was the most watched Hindi Movies channel in BARC’s across genres weekly list.

Star India’s pay TV Hindi GEC Star Bharat dropped a place from the previous week’s fifth rank to sixth rank in week 52 of 2018 with 658.078 million weekly impressions as compared to 693.134 million weekly impressions in week 51. Star Bharat was ranked third in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and sixth and fifth in HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively. The Hindi mythology Radhakrishn on Star Bharat was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GECs programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R).

Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus dropped four places from the previous week to seventh place in week 52 of 2018 with 654.141 million impressions as compared to 764.975 million weekly impressions and second rank in week 51. Star Plus was ranked fourth in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in in the combined urban and rural Hindi speaking markets or HSM (U+R) and was ranked first in HSM (U) and ninth in HSM (R).

Zeel’s flagship Telugu GEC Zee Telugu rose two spots to eighth rank in week 52 of 2018 with 634.910 million weekly impressions as compared to 529.277 million weekly impressions in week 50. The channel was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market.

SPN’s Hindi Movies channel Sony Max also dropped a couple of spots to ninth rank in week 52 of 2018 with 625,252 millon weekly impresions as compared with 575.714 million weekly impressions in week 51. Sony Max was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies channels in HSM (U+R), first in HSM (U) and was ranked fourth in HSM (R). Hindi feature films (HFF) Sui Daaga, Bahubali the Beginning and Son of Satyamurthy were ranked second, third and fifth respectively in HSM (U).

SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) re-entered BARC’s top 10 across genres weekly list in week 52 of 2018 at tenth rank with 603.330 million weekly impressions. SET was ranked fifth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and second in HSM (U). The reality show Indian Idol on the channel was ranked third and first in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GECs programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) respectively.

January 7, 2019
Sensational singing aspirants with their inspiring stories strike the right chord on the 10th season of Indian Idol

MUMBAI: With the advent of monsoon, Sony Entertainment Television opens up a refreshing new chapter of Indian Idol with #MausamMusicKa. In its 10th season this year, Indian Idol is set to raise the bar yet again with not just impressive talent but also their inspiring stories. Taking on the responsibility of judging will be, renowned singer and music composer, Vishal Dadlani, popular singer and youth icon, Neha Kakkar, and the veteran singer and music director, Anu Malik. The spontaneous and talented Maniesh Paul, anchors the show as its charming host.

This year, Indian Idol will see some inspiring journeys of contestants who want to prove that their talent surpasses the societal norms of appearance, cast or religion. From an accomplished playback singer from Odisha, to a stage performer from Shimla who doesn’t want to give up singing even though his eyesight is giving up on him; from a trained singer who has been rejected by a music band because of their conventional expectations to 19-year-old who supports his entire family with his singing, will all be judged on the same parameters. It’s their grit and determination that has got them this far and will help them turn over a new leaf hereon.

Staying true to the promise of enhancing the viewer engagement with an interactive second screen, Sony Entertainment Television, via the SonyLIV app will provide an opportunity to the viewers to be an integral part of the contestants’ journey on Indian Idol. From guessing contestant’s selection during auditions to cheering for their favourite contestants during the gala round and singing along with their choice contestants, the viewers will be involved with a lot more.

From the several who audition, those chosen will undergo the Theatre Round from which the judges will further shortlist contestants, for the Top 12. The competition amongst the Top 12 will intensify with the audience and the judges rooting and voting for their favourite contestants’ week on week till the next Indian Idol is chosen. Neha Kakkar has been a part of the Indian Idol journey before as a contestant and as a judge currently, will be seen guiding them towards perfection along with her co-judges Vishal Dadlani and Anu Malik.

Based on format created & owned by FremantleMedia and 19TV Ltd, the multi-faceted chemistry between the judges combined with sensational singing talent promises to make this season of Indian Idol an ultimate entertainer on Indian television. Join the super trio of judges as they embark on this new journey to discover India’s next ‘Indian Idol’.

July 9, 2018
Sony’s Indian Idol season 7 to be aired live on dittoTV

MUMBAI: dittoTV subscribers have one more reason to celebrate Christmas with some entertainment. Indian Idol, one of India’s singing reality shows, is back and fans of the show will be able to catch the latest season 7 live on Sony Entertainment Television available on dittoTV from 24 December every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm.

This latest season will be judged by Indian Idol’s original panel of judges – Anu Malik, Sonu Nigam and Farah Khan, who will be making a comeback on the show after 12 years.

“Indian Idol is one of India’s oldest and most loved musical reality shows, with a huge fan following. As a weekend show, many people could be missing out on the live airing since they may be out or just don’t have easy access to a television set. dittoTV now makes it possible for them to conveniently watch Indian Idol as it airs, anywhere on any internet-enabled device. And at a very affordable price point,” said Z5 Business head of digital Archana Anand.

With its large bouquet of channels, dittoTV enables its on-the-go audiences to stay connected to their favourite shows across channels such as The Voice India, which launched its second season earlier this month on &TV, and now Indian Idol on Sony.

December 23, 2016
Sony’s Indian Idol season 7 to be aired live on dittoTV

MUMBAI: dittoTV subscribers have one more reason to celebrate Christmas with some entertainment. Indian Idol, one of India’s singing reality shows, is back and fans of the show will be able to catch the latest season 7 live on Sony Entertainment Television available on dittoTV from 24 December every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm.

This latest season will be judged by Indian Idol’s original panel of judges – Anu Malik, Sonu Nigam and Farah Khan, who will be making a comeback on the show after 12 years.

“Indian Idol is one of India’s oldest and most loved musical reality shows, with a huge fan following. As a weekend show, many people could be missing out on the live airing since they may be out or just don’t have easy access to a television set. dittoTV now makes it possible for them to conveniently watch Indian Idol as it airs, anywhere on any internet-enabled device. And at a very affordable price point,” said Z5 Business head of digital Archana Anand.

With its large bouquet of channels, dittoTV enables its on-the-go audiences to stay connected to their favourite shows across channels such as The Voice India, which launched its second season earlier this month on &TV, and now Indian Idol on Sony.

December 23, 2016
Sony strengthens weekday programming; launching four shows by July ’17

MUMBAI: After strengthening the weekend programming with Super Dancer, Sony Entertainment Television is all set to bring one of its iconic shows — Indian Idol — back.

“Sony has traditionally done very well as far as the weekend is concerned. So, when we started rebuilding this channel a year ago, the aim was to make Sony the number one weekend destination. I am happy to say that we have achieved that. Weekday programming is where we are going to focus now. We have launched Beyhadh which received a good opening. Weekday is a habit which will take time to be cultivated, and can’t happen in one go,” said Sony Entertainment Television EVP and business head Danish Khan.

Khan added, “There are three-four launches between January and July in 2017, and, in July, people will see a very healthy weekend. It will be gradual, step by step, but, like you have seen in the weekend, you will see weekday of Sony fulfilling expectation of the audience very soon.” Sony’s much talked about historical drama Peshwa Bajirao is slated to launch in January.

Indian Idol is the first step in bringing back the old iconic shows of Sony. The show will be aired from 24 December on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.

The channel has roped in Vivo as the title sponsors, and KUV 100 and Quick Heal as the ‘Co-powered By’ sponsors. According to sources, a 10-sec ad rate for the show has been sold for Rs 1 lakh each.

This season also marks the comeback of its original trio of judges, Farah Khan, Sonu Nigam and Anu Malik, which has come together on the platform once again, after 12 years. Their chemistry and unique style of interaction with the participants holds promise — to make this season an ultimate entertainer on the Indian television.

While the contestants impress viewers with their talent, the judges will also mark them on three most important factors that define the Indian Idol platform – Riyaaz, Awaaz and Andaaz. The legendary singing sensation of India, Sonu Nigam, will focus on the contestants’ ‘Riyaaz’, the maestro Anu Malik will be keenly observing their ‘Awaaz’, and known for her distinguished style, Bollywood’s ace choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan will judge their ‘Andaaz’.

The show will begin with audition episodes from across the country; episodes that witnessed lakhs of talented singers competing to make it into the top 110. Hosting the ninth season will be the charming Karan Wahi and Paritosh Tripathy.

Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sony Pictures Networks CEO NP Singh said, “It’s an authentic talent hunt show with authentic talent. Indian Idol is a show which broke new ground a few years ago, and in many ways changed the landscape of reality shows in India. It worked really well for us.”

Post the fantastic success of its most popular show Super Dancer, the channel now brings to the fore one of its biggest properties — Indian Idol. Khan informed, “We have created a dedicated time of 8pm on weekends that will continue to bring unseen talent to our viewers. Super Dancer saw some amazing dancers and now, with Indian Idol, we intend to take this legacy ahead. The original trio of judges is a wonderful combination in the world of music and their chemistry coupled with outstanding singers will surely create magic on screen.”

Said FremantleMedia India business head Vidyuth Bhandary, “The global phenomenon of the Idol format — launched in 52 territories worldwide and rated as the No 1 show 48 times — has been watched by half a billion viewers globally, making it one of the world’s most loved shows. We are proud of our strong partnership and collaboration with Sony Pictures Networks India, and happy to announce the launch of the 9th season of Indian Idol. It’s been 12 years since the first season of Indian Idol was launched on SET making it the longest-running reality show in India with unprecedented participation.”

The channel will soon bring back all its iconic shows such as — KBC and Dus Ka Dum.

“Indian Idol has been a torch-bearer of sorts in terms of the non-fiction programming slate for Sony, and has proved to be a war-horse when it comes to TVR numbers. Thus, it’s great news for Sony that the show is making a return after a rather long hiatus and what’s better is that they have gone back to the earlier panel of judges, which allows the audience to find an instant connect from the word go. What’s worked for the show earlier is the platform that it has provided for stars of the future, but the fact that the show wasn’t around for four years has allowed other shows like ‘The Voice’ to create ample room for competition. It will be a great battle to be witnessed between Indian Idol’s return along with a new format in Colors’ Rising Star on the small screen in the coming days,” said a senior media planner.

December 21, 2016
Sony strengthens weekday programming; launching four shows by July ’17

MUMBAI: After strengthening the weekend programming with Super Dancer, Sony Entertainment Television is all set to bring one of its iconic shows — Indian Idol — back.

“Sony has traditionally done very well as far as the weekend is concerned. So, when we started rebuilding this channel a year ago, the aim was to make Sony the number one weekend destination. I am happy to say that we have achieved that. Weekday programming is where we are going to focus now. We have launched Beyhadh which received a good opening. Weekday is a habit which will take time to be cultivated, and can’t happen in one go,” said Sony Entertainment Television EVP and business head Danish Khan.

Khan added, “There are three-four launches between January and July in 2017, and, in July, people will see a very healthy weekend. It will be gradual, step by step, but, like you have seen in the weekend, you will see weekday of Sony fulfilling expectation of the audience very soon.” Sony’s much talked about historical drama Peshwa Bajirao is slated to launch in January.

Indian Idol is the first step in bringing back the old iconic shows of Sony. The show will be aired from 24 December on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.

The channel has roped in Vivo as the title sponsors, and KUV 100 and Quick Heal as the ‘Co-powered By’ sponsors. According to sources, a 10-sec ad rate for the show has been sold for Rs 1 lakh each.

This season also marks the comeback of its original trio of judges, Farah Khan, Sonu Nigam and Anu Malik, which has come together on the platform once again, after 12 years. Their chemistry and unique style of interaction with the participants holds promise — to make this season an ultimate entertainer on the Indian television.

While the contestants impress viewers with their talent, the judges will also mark them on three most important factors that define the Indian Idol platform – Riyaaz, Awaaz and Andaaz. The legendary singing sensation of India, Sonu Nigam, will focus on the contestants’ ‘Riyaaz’, the maestro Anu Malik will be keenly observing their ‘Awaaz’, and known for her distinguished style, Bollywood’s ace choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan will judge their ‘Andaaz’.

The show will begin with audition episodes from across the country; episodes that witnessed lakhs of talented singers competing to make it into the top 110. Hosting the ninth season will be the charming Karan Wahi and Paritosh Tripathy.

Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sony Pictures Networks CEO NP Singh said, “It’s an authentic talent hunt show with authentic talent. Indian Idol is a show which broke new ground a few years ago, and in many ways changed the landscape of reality shows in India. It worked really well for us.”

Post the fantastic success of its most popular show Super Dancer, the channel now brings to the fore one of its biggest properties — Indian Idol. Khan informed, “We have created a dedicated time of 8pm on weekends that will continue to bring unseen talent to our viewers. Super Dancer saw some amazing dancers and now, with Indian Idol, we intend to take this legacy ahead. The original trio of judges is a wonderful combination in the world of music and their chemistry coupled with outstanding singers will surely create magic on screen.”

Said FremantleMedia India business head Vidyuth Bhandary, “The global phenomenon of the Idol format — launched in 52 territories worldwide and rated as the No 1 show 48 times — has been watched by half a billion viewers globally, making it one of the world’s most loved shows. We are proud of our strong partnership and collaboration with Sony Pictures Networks India, and happy to announce the launch of the 9th season of Indian Idol. It’s been 12 years since the first season of Indian Idol was launched on SET making it the longest-running reality show in India with unprecedented participation.”

The channel will soon bring back all its iconic shows such as — KBC and Dus Ka Dum.

“Indian Idol has been a torch-bearer of sorts in terms of the non-fiction programming slate for Sony, and has proved to be a war-horse when it comes to TVR numbers. Thus, it’s great news for Sony that the show is making a return after a rather long hiatus and what’s better is that they have gone back to the earlier panel of judges, which allows the audience to find an instant connect from the word go. What’s worked for the show earlier is the platform that it has provided for stars of the future, but the fact that the show wasn’t around for four years has allowed other shows like ‘The Voice’ to create ample room for competition. It will be a great battle to be witnessed between Indian Idol’s return along with a new format in Colors’ Rising Star on the small screen in the coming days,” said a senior media planner.

December 21, 2016
Sony’s four new shows from different genres

MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television has always given some of best and memorable shows to Indian television. In a bid to grab eyeballs, Sony Entertainment Television has been gearing up to regale its audience with a fresh line up of the shows over the last few months. As of now channel has launch plans for a further mix that consists of a reality show and three soaps that cover romance, a thriller and a comedy show. The channel launched the much awaited show with Kapil Sharma – The Kapil Sharma Show a couple of weeks ago.

Here’s what’s new on the Sony Entertainment Slate.

After producing reality shows like Indian Idol, Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa and Khatro Ke Khiladi and Boogie Woogie, Sony Entertainment Television is all set to bring another reality show Super Dancer for Indian audiences. Produced by Frames Production, Super Dancer will be a kids dance reality show.

Since February this year, the channel has been continuously bringing in fresh content. With the launch of two new shows – Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi and EK Duje Ke Vaste on 29 February, the channel has been curating an array of new shows.

Adding to that array, Sony Entertainment Television will be launching two more new shows. One of the most famous names in television industry, Kavita Barjataya will be producing her first show with Sony – Ek Rishta Saajhedaari Ka, a love story. The leads are played by Kinshuk Vadiya of the Shakalaka Boom Boom fame and Shivya Pathania. Vaidya returns to the small screen after a decade

Another fiction show on Sony Entertainment Television will be Cinevistaas’ psychological thriller Behaad. Jennifer Winget and Kushal Tandon are playing the leads in the show. According to the sources the show will be a weekend property.

Apart from this the channel is also exploring a new show in the comedy genre with Shashi Sumeet production’s Mere Bhai Ki Dulhaniya.

May 14, 2016