MxMIndia

Tag: Bigg Boss

  • There will be 24-hour live feeds and digital first before-TV access on Voot Select

    Bigg Boss Season 14 to also air on Voot Select

    By A Correspondent

     

    As Season 14 of Bigg Boss 2020 is getting set to be back on Colors, there is news that Voot Select subscribers will get unlimited access from the ‘BB House’ and the episode will be streamed on Voot Select ahead of the TV airing. To coincide with this the subscription offer of Rs 99 per month has also been announced with an introductory price of Rs 499 per annum. The date of the launch of the reality show has not yet been disclosed.

     

    Said Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head- Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network, Viacom18: “Bigg Boss today has grown to become a phenomenon in the country. The following and viewership the show receives continues to grow each year and it is truly the fans that make it happen. The last season was a tremendous success, trending on social timelines while also creating new viewership records in the category. While this year has been tough on everyone, we believe that it is only fair to the shows fan’s and our viewers that we return with a brand-new season 14 that will heighten spirits and delivers on an unmatched and thrilling entertainment experience. We look forward to launching yet another milestone season thus keeping our viewers engaged and happy as always.”

     

    Added Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Viacom18: “Bigg Boss is not just a show but an extravaganza that drives pop culture and conversations in this country.  The show has every year garnered unparalleled patronage from our viewers and partners, each seeking to be a part of the category-defining show.  This year we know that our audience had to face many challenges.  But the new season of Bigg Boss will serve as a perfect antidote and give a fitting retort to 2020 – Ab Paltega Scene, Kyunki BB dega 2020 ko Jawaab being the intent. Like every year we intent on bringing to life a winning mix of concepts, celebrities, and stress buster entertainment – A sensational show that each of our true blue Bigg Boss fans will not want to miss any moment of.”

     

    Speaking on the digital for proposition of the iconic show Gourav Rakshit, Chief Operating Officer, Viacom18 Digital Ventures, said, “ At Voot Select, we have ensured that our viewers are engaged and entertained with content that is a premium, exclusive, and diverse. Bigg Boss is one of India’s most-watched shows and commands a following and fandom that is unmatched. Taking our digital-first strategy a step forward and keeping in sync with our viewers growing demands, viewers and Bigg Boss’ Asli Fans will have access to daily episodes before it airs on television. With a watch first, watch non-stop & watch super-exclusive proposition, we look forward to showcasing yet another exciting and larger than life season of Bigg Boss for all our premium subscribers.”

     

     

  • The decision was made in support of the government's proposals to prevent the spread of coronavirus

    Asianet suspends ‘Bigg Boss Malayalam 2’

    By A Correspondent

     

    In the fight against Covid-19, Asianet stalled the shooting of Bigg Boss in Malayalam and has been temporarily suspended from March 21 onwards.

     

    Notes a communique: “The decision was made in support of the government’s proposals to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”

     

  • The show has taken Colors to #1 in Urban HSM, past 200 GRPs, a rare feat in Hindi GECs these days, writes Shailesh Kapoor

    Non-Fiction sets new Benchmarks with Bigg Boss 13

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Next week, the longest-ever season of Bigg Boss finally draws to a close. And it’s been the longest one for a very good reason. Bigg Boss 13 has turned out to be the most successful season of the show ever. The weekday episodes are rating at par with some of the top-rated fiction shows, despite the show’s late 10.30pm slot, with episodes ending well past 11.30pm on most days. The weekend episodes lead other weekend shows, including the hugely-popular The Kapil Sharma Show and Colors’ very own Naagin.

    In general, Bigg Boss seasons find a viewership pattern in the first month, and then growth in viewership is minimal post that, limited to 20-25% at best. This season has seen growth nearing the 40% mark on the weekdays and the 50% mark on the weekends, if you compare the first half of the season to the second. The first half rated at usual levels of sub-2 TVR. But as the show progressed and the principal characters began to emerge more sharply, the surge in ratings followed. Bigg Boss, with strong support from repeat airings too, has taken Colors to the No 1 position in Urban HSM, now past the 200-GRP mark, a rare feat in the Hindi GEC category these days. Add the digital viewership, conversations and impact, and Bigg Boss 13’s success is even more significant.

    The content has definitely been more edgy this year than before. Relationships, of the romantic variety in particular, have been presented without much sanitisation, and public display of affection on the show is given a lot of prominence in the episodes on air. At times, conventional Hindi GEC understanding would make you question how such content can ever get traction. But that’s where the fascinating audience insight lies.

    If a Hindi GEC fiction show was based on a theme that explores love in a way that’s not ‘Indian’ enough (eg getting attracted to someone despite no formal breakup with one’s existing partner), it would get rejected at the onset itself. Such a fiction show would be seen as propagating negative ideas, and would simply not fit the idea of television and why it’s watched.

    But change the context from fiction to non-fiction, specifically Bigg Boss, and the rules change. Over the last four-five years, Hindi mass audiences have warmed up to non-fiction more than ever before. The low-commitment, short-duration content is a welcome change from the long-running fatigue machines that most fiction shows have come to be seen as. This acceptance of non-fiction has also come with an understanding and acceptance of the idea that ‘rules’ for fiction and non-fiction are different. Fiction is for wholesome family entertainment, delivered through relatable yet aspirational characters, while non-fiction is entertainment in a dialed-up version.

    Barring KBC, which stays true to its original idea of being a wholesome entertainer, most other non-fiction shows that have done well have tweaked their content to give frontal status to their entertainment value. On Indian Idol, for example, less than 30% of the action or talk between any two singing performances is about the performance (or music, in general) itself. There is a running joke about the host wanting to marry the female anchor, and it works. Two weeks from now, Khatron Ke Khiladi, another show that has used entertainment as a weapon of audience expansion, will play on the same quotient.

    Bigg Boss 13’s success may be difficult to repeat every year, but non-fiction is here to stay… and grow. Now, if only they aired more of it on the weekdays.

     

  • The first in a series of six decade-ender lists by Shailesh Kapoor

    The Most-Defining Hindi TV Shows of the Decade

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    This is the first in a series of six decade-ender lists in this column. Read the prologue here.

     

    It’s been a decade where regional GECs have thrived, even as the Hindi GEC category has struggled to fight stagnation, especially in the second half. But this list is based on Hindi language TV shows only, and hence, does not cover regional shows. The list also does not cover shows that launched in the previous decade (2009 or earlier) and found their peak recognition in the previous decade itself, i.e., several Colors’ shows like Balika Vadhu, Naa Aana Iss Des Laado and Uttaran, as well as other top shows like Pavitra Rishta and Saath Nibhana Saathiya.

    Honorable mentions must be made for three shows that just missed making it to this list of 10: Star Plus’ Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Mahabharat, and Life OK’s Devon Ke Dev Mahadev.

     

    10. Kumkum Bhagya (Zee TV)

    The Balaji love story launched in 2014, and has been a top-rated show since then, though its consumer perceptions peaked in the 2015-17 period and have thereon been mixed. The show is arguably one of the best renditions of the tried-and-tested Balaji love story template of star-crossed lovers who have little in common except their undying love for each other. Kumkum Bhagya has managed to keep Zee TV in the running for a top position in the category through the last five years, and also given the channel a quasi spin-off in the very successful Kundali Bhagya (2017).

     

    9. Bigg Boss (Colors)

    Bigg Boss has managed to last through the decade, battling the odd weak season among quite a few strong one. Salman Khan took over as the host of the show at the start of this decade, in Season 4, and the parallel rise in his stardom over this period has benefited Bigg Boss too. The show has now become the standard reference for all task-based reality shows, including many on Colors’ network channel MTV. While Bigg Boss’ ratings may be modest at times, the social media buzz and online consumption (Voot) it garners speaks about its cult status today.

     

    8. Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (Sony)

    Balaji’s 2011 launch single-handedly turned around Sony’s fiction fortunes. From being a channel that was known and watched only for crime and reality content, Sony suddenly had a 3+ rating show in its kitty, literally in a matter of weeks. This is how good and effective Bade Achhe Lagte Hain was. The Ram Kapoor-Sakshi Tanwar casting lent unmistakable punch to the show, reminding us how good acting can be a gamechanger in itself. The show’s peak following was short-lived, to less than two years. But in that short time, it was arguably the most special thing on Indian television.

     

    7. Naagin (Colors)

    If you are counting Balaji shows in this list, this is the third, and the last one too. Naagin’s huge success in a weekend slot surprised many. Weekends were traditionally known for non-fiction content, and a supernatural drama wouldn’t get too many bets as a top-show contender. But Naagin became that, not just for the weekends but across the entire week. The show’s fourth season launches this December. The second and third seasons have not been able to build on the first season’s magic, but the franchise has even firepower to keep it going. There’s enough and more to write about this show, and this 2016 article written in this column may be a relevant read for those interested in more.

     

    6. Crime Patrol (Sony) & Savdhaan India (Life OK/ Star Bharat)

    The crime reconstruction genre has thrived through these ten years, and it would have been unfair to pick the show that pioneered it over the one that has taken the baton ahead, or vice versa. Hence, Crime Patrol, which had an amazing run in the 2012-14 period, and Savdhaan India, which gave its channel a lifeline in the most-troubled times, share this spot. The two shows actually have very different presentation styles, but between them together, they have created a genre that carries such immense viewer appeal that even fatigue with the overdose of such content has not managed to dampen it beyond a point.

     

    5. Diya Aur Baati Hum (Star Plus)

    Shashi-Sumeet Productions’ show on a woman’s journey to become a cop, with her husband by her side all along, ruled the ratings charts and the audience’s hearts alike for almost four years in the first half the decade. Diya Aur Baati Hum is a rare show that actually led to visible social change, triggering off interest among young girls to join the police force, and enabling their parents’ acceptance of this idea. Sandhya’s journey has been a source of inspiration for many women in small-town India in particular. Even as the Hindi GEC category continues to be attacked for its negative and regressive portrayal of today’s India, this show continues to remind us of the progressive social change television has the power of bringing about.

     

    4. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Star Plus)

    Rajan Shahi’s show launched in early 2009, and was an instant hit for its resonating portrayal of the life of an Indian woman through the various positive emotions and challenges she has to face, especially in a post-marriage scenario. Almost 11 years later, the show continues to thrive, staying true to its core idea of being a positive and uplifting portrayal of the great Indian family culture. The lead Akshara has been now replaced by her daughter Naira, but unlike many other fiction shows that lose the plot over time, Yeh Rishta… shows how a long-running show is still possible in today’s age if you have a strong idea at the heart of it.

     

    3. Kaun Banega Crorepati (Sony)

    Sony brought back the iconic show in 2010, after a three-year gap since the previous season on Star Plus. I often wonder if KBC would have ever come back on air if Sony did not need a disruptive gamble to revive its dwindling GEC fortunes in 2010! But on air it was, and for eight seasons over the decade, all but one of which have been hugely successful. Every season brings with it something new, and yet, the idea of the family sitting together and watching KBC has remained intact. As has the show’s impeccable host, who exemplifies excellence in television hosting.

     

    2. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (Sab)

    The Asit Modi-produced show started off as a light family entertainer in 2008, and was initially dismissed as a “regional” success, given the heavy skew in its ratings from the Gujarat market. But over the decade, the show has managed to break this geographical barrier inch by inch, through its wholesome, family-inclusive and clean comedy. The show’s lead character Jethalal is also the most popular Hindi GEC character of the decade (Ormax Characters India Loves). Many comedy shows over the decade have attempted to recreate Taarak Mehta…’s success. But nothing has come even close. And that tells us how special this one has been.

     

    1. Comedy Night With Kapil (Colors) & The Kapil Sharma Show (Sony)

    If there was a title of the Person of the Year for the media & entertainment industry for this decade, Kapil Sharma would get my vote for it. By virtue of being a top comedian on Sony’s Comedy Circus, Sharma got his opportunity to get a show of his own, and that’s when his came into his own. Starry tantrums, co-star issues, channel issues and many other such controversies have come in the way, but Sharma has managed to stay afloat, and is back with renewed energy over the last year or so. May he have another decade, and more, of ruling the small screen. Because when it comes to comedy for the masses, he’s running a solo race.

     

     

  • At the end, it’s all about the way your glasses are coloured, writes Sanjeev Kotnala

    Sanjeev Kotnala: Bigg Boss hit by controversies, again

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Controversies and Indian television, particularly about the reality shows are not new. Roadies, Splitsvilla, Emotional Atyachar, Bindass, SuperStud, Rakhi Ka Swayamver, Saach Ka Samana, had their fair share of objections.

    There are some minor controversies like shows are scripted, there are fake injuries, fake health issues or even a phoney marriage. Then there have been some significant controversies like Shweta Tiwari bathing in ‘Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao’ and objection to the concept of Balika Vadhu.

     

    Can’t Blame It On Formats.

    There is pressure on cast, producer and channels to grab eyeballs for business interest. It does force them to experiment and go to the edge. It is a business requirement to engage and involve the audience in a very cut-throat environment.

    It is natural for some of the content not finding acceptance with a section of audience and influencer bodies. Formats is a creative decision, and so is the edits. The channel has complete control of what is finally aired and made available to the viewers.

    Bigg Boss 13 and the Recent Controversy.

    Bigg Boss, through its history, has suffered many controversies. Seasons 13 is no different. In an attempt to further enhance the viewer experience, the channel has rightly experimented with the inner play between the contestants.

    Bigg Boss was trying to implement too many changes at the same time. Polarised audience reaction was a natural outcome.

    Finally, a section of the audience found it too much to accept and decided to seek a ban on the show. The diligently played the classic “Indian culture, traditions and vulgarity” card which gets major purchase in media.

    The protesters may be right and do have a right to their opinion. After all, vulgarity, and influencing little minds is after all subjective.

    Things are no longer straightforward. There is a petition to the President. The protest outside the host Salman Khan house has led to the strengthening of security for him. The Minister of Information & Broadcasting Minister has sought a report on the subject.

    Surprised no one from the fraternity coming to help the channel. I don’t know when and where we will find solidiarity to deflect such attacks.

     

    So, Why Protesters Want Bigg Boss 13 To Be Banned?

    Now one of the contentions of a leading protester is sharing of bed. It has been provocatively termed ‘Bed Friend Forever’. Additionally, ‘Couples of different communities were made bed partners, which was unacceptable’. The latter part is debatable. Every contestant is an adult and knows their choices before entering the show. They are sharing a bed, not doing anything else. There are 93 cameras in the BiggBoss house. Why are we hell-bent on bringing communities, religion and regions in such issues? Are we all not Indian?

    They claim Bigg Boss 13 is unfit for family viewing as it had some intimate scenes. Children and minors are watching television and have easy access to shows like Bigg Boss, where some content almost adult content. Moreover, such shows are available on the Internet too further easing the access. In the case of Bigg Boss13 the content ( including unseen footage) over Voot and Hello.

    We must note that Bigg Boss 13 follows the guideline of a late telecast. In the ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ telecast on Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM, the host along with the channel, intervene and do course correction. If we want to take any action, we may have to blanket a lot of such content.

    Yet again, there are voices seeking censoring mechanism for content aired on television.

    When there is no issue of availability, availability and affordability issue with any content, do we want to go back to the dark era of censorship? We must allow the audience to decide which of the shows cross the line.

    Earlier Petition Against Bigg Boss 13.

    Earlier too there have been petitions on Change.or claiming Bigg Boss is sending out the wrong message. It is abusive, mannerless, arrogant, vulgar and cheap in its aim to earn TRP.

    That is the format. And when you place a set of people in such surrounding with different assignments and task to be accomplished to win the show, fights and argument are a natural outcome.

    So, Are The Protesters All Wrong?

    There is some validity in the protesters’ argument. Yes, there is a possibility that Bigg Boss may end-up impacting impressionable minds. The young viewers may start believing that it is okay to abuse, pass racist comments, make a vulgar gesture, and attack people personally. Moreover, they may think that it takes just a lame sorry to get back on the track.

    If, we were so concerned about arrogance, being mannerless and abusive, well it is our task to show and teach why it is wrong. Alternatively, let us ban everything that is arrogant, mannerless, provocative on air.

    Anyone finding the show not worth watching has the option of switching to the channels where relevant, scientific, culturally sound shows of their interest can be found.

    Caution Advised.

    In the current situation, it is in the best interest of the Industry and the channel, if makers of Bigg Boss 13 took some extra care in the edits that are aired or shared. I am not of the view of censoring, but some amount of self-regulation will do a lot of good to the formats.

    Meanwhile, all I can pray, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry gives Bigg Boss, my favourite show a clean chit. In past when there were objections to ‘Balika Vadhu’ based on the concept of child marriages, a clean chit was given to the show.

     

    At The End It Is All About The Way Your Glasses Are Coloured.

    No show can have all the audience on its side. We all have our own biases and coloured glasses through which we see everything around us. The protesters may have a point when a show goes to the edge in its experimentation. On the other side, I continue to maintain that there is enough learning in the show if one is watching it from a different perspective.

     

  • It's a magic pot with unpredictability in its core. A diehard fan of the megashow, Sanjeev Kotnala

    Bigg Boss 12: Hits, Misses, Blips

     

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    The much-awaited Bigg Boss12 is now on and facing the audience test. Colors has always been high on experimentation with concepts, props and tasks. The host Salman Khan on the opening night did what he does best, enhancing audience engagement, involvement and entertainment. I hope that Bigg Boss12 is going to be a lot more entertaining.

     

    THE EXTENDED FRANCHISE OF BIGG BOSS

    Bigg Boss post its inaugural night on November 3, 2006 has come a long way. The franchise now extends to Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Malayalam. I see the show as classic glasshouse experimentation in human behaviour and endurance.

    It’s a magic pot with unpredictability in its core. It is like an extended amoebic family that keeps changing its definition and membership. Members that throw an open challenge on the face and keep scheming behind your back. The contestants are completely devoted to achieving of their ultimate objective. A will-do-anything for avoiding nomination or getting the captainship that comes with immunity and powers.  The constant chatter and natural bitching, fight. There is an irreversible irrevocable omnipresent loop of fight-makeup-friendship-offence-defence-fight. There are minor variations and lot more that going in the mind of loyal viewers. Romance and dictatorial democracy. Moreover, tasks are testing the contestant’s mental and physical capabilities.

     

    HIT

    The channel has acceded to the unified audience demand of early telecast timing. The 9pm slot is going to add to audience interest and resultant viewership. However, the channel may be forced to drop some real spicy incidents and beep some words.  For watching the uncut you have Voot.

    Humans gyrate towards like minded others. In the pressure cooker called the Bigg Boss house, Jodi and at times even Tikri (threesome) has been on display in earlier seasons. So, Jodi or ‘Vichitra Jodi’ as the channel brands it, is a natural extension.

     

    MISS

    One noticeable miss was the representation of LGBT representative among the contestants after the Section 377 being decriminalised.  Calling them Vichitra Jodi would have been so politically incorrect. Not sure how it could have been handled.

     

    BLIP

    The not-so-humorous treatment doled out to Anup Jalota and Jasleen was not in good taste. It’s also okay for people to say that once you sign for Bigg Boss, you are a mere contestant and should be expecting this treatment.

    It’s okay for the contestant to raise the issue inside the house, which they have already done. However, the Bigg Boss stage with Salman Khan should have remained neutral to the vichitrata of the age gap.

    The other miss was the omnipresent never smiling Jallad. He is a brand in himself with a fan following. Hope we see him during the first weekend in his new avatar.

     

    THE RELEVANT QUESTIONS.

    Who will join Rahul Roy, Ashutosh Kaushik, Vindu Dara Singh, Shweta Tiwari, Juhi Parmar, Urvashi Dholakia, Gauahar Khan, Prince Narula, Manveer Gujjar and Shilpa Shinde as the next BiggBoss Winner?

    Will Bigg Boss 12 break the earlier season records in popularity? The stage is all set. The spread of the contestant is bubbling with energy and ideas. The contestants are smart and determined with their strong views and idiosyncrasies. A bit more of celebrity content would have always helped. I believe this season is going to be a lot more entertaining and will gain from the 9pm slot.

     

    THE EARLY PREDICTION.

    Many may wish for him to win, but I don’t see S Sreesanth ever surviving long. Urvashi Vani will have not much to play but a lot to play for in the show. The Fake Vs. Real people drama started on Day One will have many more takers and episodes in time to come.

     

    I would be surprised if Shivashish – Saurabh, Roshmi – Mital, Sabha – Somi and Anup Jalota – Jasleen, Karanveer Bohra or Srishty Rode were to win. Jodies will not find it easy in the show, as expected by the public and the contestants themselves; Biggboss will play them against each other. However, Romil Choudhary – Nirmal Singh and Surbhi – Kirti seem to be two strong Jodies in the show.

     

    Deepak Thakur, Dipika Kakar and Neha Pendse could be that surprise package. However, I have the right to change my mind at any phase of the show. Yeah to abhi trailer hai, picture abhi bahut baki hai mere dost.

     

    THE COMMITMENT AND DREAM.

    Out of some 1039 hours of the original telecast of the Hindi version, I would have watched at least 1000 hours, that’s like 41 days of viewing. The most extended version has been Season 8 of 133 days with 29 contestants.

    As of Season 11, approximately 185 contestants have been part of Bigg Boss spending more than 24 hours in the house, excluding the star guests.

    I have been to the audition in Season 9 and regret not making it to the final. I blame it on my uninspiring, noncontroversial, unexciting and harmless life story. However, dreams do not die early. Anup Jalota has made it to the show with Jasleen, and so there is still hope for me. Give me at least 72 hours to test myself in that environment.

    Till then I will manage with my yearly pilgrimage to the sets of Bigg Boss at Lonavala.

     

    MISSED THE SHOW. GET ON VOOT.

    Last night, I thought I could catch the show on Voot as my flight from Nagpur was at 2155 hrs. However, Voot does not carry live. When I checked it at 2340 Hrs on the way to home from the airport, I realised episodes are not loaded immediately after the telecast. Maybe this is something channel need to check for.

     

    Sanjeev Kotnala is a senior marketing and strategy consultant and trainer. He writes on MxMIndia every week. The views here are personal.

     

     

  • Will the sequel be the elusive 4+ show on GECs? Till then, let non-fictions sail the category through troubled times, writes Shailesh Kapoor

    September 2018: Kasautii GEC Ki

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    September 2018 promises to be a fairly eventful month for the Hindi GEC category. Using the word “eventful” for this category is unusual, giving the inertia we have seen it display over the last 3-4 years. But at least in relative terms, there’s a lot more happening this month than in any typical month.

    The big highlight is the return of the iconic Kasautii Zindagii Kay on Star Plus. The channel gave several hits in the 2000-2005 period, most of which were produced by Balaji Telefilms. This is the first franchise attempt at recreating that success, more than a decade later.

    The campaign has registered well so far, tracking higher than established non-fiction shows like KBC and Bigg Boss, which is a rare feat for a fiction show to achieve nowadays. The show is still more than two weeks away from its launch, but if it opens well and then goes on to sustain, we could see a barrage of franchise launches on GECs.

    But let the irony in Kasautii’s case not be lost. The K-serials were much-maligned by consumers in the late 2000s, paving way for Colors and forcing Star Plus to relook at their offering. A decade later, the second season of one of those much-maligned serials is the most looked-forward-to fiction launch. Clearly, what has happened in between, especially in the last three-four years, has to be very poor for this reversal of perception to happen.

    The other big highlight of this month is the launch of two big reality shows. KBC went on air this week, while Bigg Boss launches next weekend. There was not much I thought of this, till last night’s announcement by Colors that they have relooked at the Bigg Boss weekdays slot, and the show will now be aired at 9pm on all days, instead of the usual 10.30pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends.

    Whatever thinking led to this after-thought is good thinking indeed. Fiction has been struggling across the board, and Colors’ recent fiction launches have been, at best, average in their performance. Putting a marquee property in the heart of the primetime is a confident move that only reinforces how Hindi GECs have started looking at non-fiction as stronger bets than fiction.

    Bigg Boss will take KBC head on. Two or three years ago, this would have been a no-contest, when KBC was a big family show and Bigg Boss a niche youth show. But times have changed. Acceptance for ‘edgier’ content has increased, be it in the kids’ category with shows like Shinchan finding morefavour, or in GECs, with Khatron KeKhiladi, Bigg Boss and their ilk growing into bigger versions of themselves. It will be a contest to watch out for.

    It would have been even more fun if Kasautii was being launched at 9 PM too. But that’s not the case, as the show gets a strong early-prime slot (8 PM). The channel has been proactively replacing its non-performing assets with new ideas over the last few weeks, and the results are beginning to show.

    Will Kasautii be that one elusive 4+ rating show that the category lacks today? We will know only over the next few months. Till then, let non-fiction sail the category through troubled times. Yet again.

  • Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak talks to us about the new season a day after Colors made a big bang announcement of the mega-show

    ‘Bigg Boss sponsors see value…’

     

    On Monday, Colors announced that Season 12 of its mega-show Bigg Boss will premiere on September 16 (at 9pm) and subsequent episodes will be aired at 10.30pm on weekdays and at 9pm on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). The theme for this year’s edition is ‘Iss bar aa rahi hai interesting Jodi’. Assorted couple jodis will battle it out to survive 100 days under the constant glare of multiple cameras and host Salman Khan’s supervision. At the press conference held in Goa, presenting sponsor Parle Agro’s Joint MD and CMO Nadia Chauhan and Will Yang, Brand Director of Oppo India were present along with Colors programming head Manisha Sharma, Non-fiction head Shital Iyer and Abhishek Rege, CEO, Endemol Shine and of  course the host and actor Salman Khan, amongst others. Let’s hear more on the 12th season of Bigg Boss from Raj Nayak, COO, Viacom18 in this exclusive interview…

     

    It’s the 12th edition of Bigg Boss, the 11th on Colors and the eighth since you’ve been helming Colors… tell us a bit about the journey the show has taken. From then to now?

    From being an all-celebrity show to the common man being able to get into the house has been the biggest transition. In hindsight, it looks like a no-brainer but it was also a huge risk ‘cause there were certain expectations. The question everyone asked was who wants to watch a commoner? Thankfully, it worked for us big-time and has broadbased our reach.

     

    So are there things that you would do then and you don’t do now… what exactly have been the learnings from each edition?

    Bigg Boss is a format and certain things are constant… the fact that we keep reinventing with every season means that we learn from our previous seasons and experiment with the current season. The biggest task for our creative team is to decide on the theme and once that is done, to get the casting right. This is the complete reality and nothing is scripted, so it is that much more important to get the casting right. The show hinges mainly on the contestants with interventions through tasks by the creative team.

     

    Perhaps an unfair ask: but how much of the success of Bigg Boss would you attribute to the presence of Salman Khan?

    The fact that we have continued with Salman Khan for the last nine years demonstrates that we see him as a valuable asset to the show. I think Bigg Boss is tailormade for him. He has a knack with the way he deals with the contestants, he does his own improvisation on the sets and, most importantly, he is  emotionally and mentally invested in the show. Our viewers, our advertisers love him and so does our entire team.

     

    Every year, we see a new high in the risqué department. For instance, last year, one remembers two inmates in intimate moments and whenever such a scene was aired, there was an advertisement of a contraceptive in the form of a super? Are there concerted efforts made to effect these to drive viewership or it’s just that it happens given the kind of inmates you have?

    Actually it’s the other way around. We see Bigg Boss as a Parivarik (family) show. We made that switch a couple of years ago… if we want to cast the net wide, then in primetime you want the whole family watching it. Salman Khan’s appeal cuts across all age groups. So it is important for us to ensure that the show is inclusive of everyone. Besides, as a responsible broadcaster, we have strict Standards & Practices, headed by our legal team, that goes through every inch of footage to ensure that we also follow the laws of the land.

     

    Talk to us about the Bigg Boss Company, if one can call it that. How many people physically present at the venue when the show is on, how much time spent on planning it, building the ‘house’, how many people considered for the final set of inmates?

    On an average, there would be about 250 people working on the project 24×7 for the entire season that lasts more than three months. The house is planned approx six months in advance and it does take time for construction. There is no hard-and-fast rule on the final set of contestants, I think it all depends on who gets voted out and who remains. Normally, if you go by previous seasons, four to five contestants remain till the very end.

     

    Given the time, effort and monies that are invested on Bigg Boss, would you say that it is commensurate with the returns in terms of ratings and revenue, esp vis-à-vis a fiction show? Also, commensurate with the risks involved in achieving the ratings and revenues?

    There is no other show that gives you the PR and buzz like Bigg Boss. There is no other show that gives you the ability to do integrations like Bigg Boss. The ratings have always been very good  and more importantly it is more or less consistent through the season. Actually it picks up after three or four episodes once the viewers identify with the contestants. Sponsors spend top dollars to be associated with it. The fact that most of our sponsors whether it is Appy Fizz, Oppo, L’oreal and others have come year after year demonstrates that they see value in the partnership.

     

    Last question: Since Bigg Boss 12, like last year, will also be aired on Voot (other than MTV), given that there is greater scope for airing of sex and promiscuity on the OTT platform, can one expect to witness a lot of that on Voot as against that on Colors?

    We don’t necessarily believe that sex or promiscuity is a must-have for content to sell. If the content is good, people will watch it. Whatever content of Bigg Boss we have shown on MTV and Voot has been extremely popular with the young audience. People who were not able to catch the linear telecast go to Voot to do a catch-up. This is one show which is discussed in the corridors of the office, in beauty parlours and any social gathering and almost 24×7 on social media. So you have to be up to speed to know what’s happening. Our viewership on Voot has grown phenomenally and just as we envisaged, this growth hasn’t come at the cost of TV. It’s additional viewership and thereby adding our overall reach of the show and hence opening up another stream of advertising revenue. Having said this, on Voot, you will get to see some undekha action,  behind the scenes and other footage you don’t get to see on Colors.

     

     

  • The channel has never shied away from innovating… clearly not a fad that blew away, writes Shailesh Kapoor

    Colors: Ten Years of a Glorious Journey

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    It will be 10 years, to the day, tomorrow (July 21, 2018) from the launch of Colors in India. To say that the launch of Colors has been the most significant TV channel launch in India since satellite TV came in would be stating the obvious. The launch was that and a lot more. Let’s rewind.

     

    The 90s were the fledging decade for Hindi GECs, with a low consumer base restricted to the top urban centres. In 2000, when Star Plus brought in Kaun Banega Crorepati and (what came to be known as) the K-serials, they ‘massified’ television, making it relevant to a wider audience set pan India. By 2005, however, fatigue was setting in fast. Audiences K-serials of the times were fueling negativity in the name of drama. Incidents of marital tension in real-life couples because of what they saw in these serials were not uncommon. Neither were stories about broken remotes.

     

    In 2006, K-serials (and non-K ones of their ilk) widened their net to Zee TV, but it was still more of the same. The ground was getting prepared for a change that will shake up the category. Ideally, one of the top existing players of the time should have done it. But they didn’t, paving way for a new entrant to disrupt and rule.

     

    There was a lot to like about Colors when it launched. The first, and the most memorable, visuals in my mind are from the first week of Balika Vadhu. The show looked nothing like the K-serials. K-serials were generally red-hued and ornate, set indoors, and had a lavish but claustrophobic feel to them. Balika Vadhu was earthy in its tone and hue, its characters spoke a language that was authentic, and unlike anything you saw in the K-serials, its visuals were open and refreshing, even in the indoor scenes. That the protagonist was a child multiplied the differentiating factor further.

     

    Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK), the tentpole launch vehicle, did its job. In the four weeks it was on air, it set the ground for viewers to sample Balika Vadhu and Jai Shri Krishna, aired back-to-back in the 8-9 PM slot, creating a base of loyal fiction audiences very early in the channel’s life.

     

    But KKK was only the start of the channel’s long and successful journey with non-fiction content. The channel quickly launched Bigg Boss to follow it up. Over this decade, Bigg Boss has emerged as the channel’s flagship non-fiction show. If it was not for Colors, one may have never seen Bigg Boss on Indian television again after the first season on Sony in 2006-07.

     

    With Balika Vadhu, the channel found a content space that it could bank on. It was a curious mix of social issues and child protagonists. Uttaran was the next big success, with some of the episodes touching 7-8% TVR, an unreal number even in those times. While there were other successes too, like NaaAanaIss Des Laado, the channel went a little overboard in trying to replicate its success formula in the 2009-10 period, after it had become a clear No 1 in early 2009. So, when Star Plus came up with its ‘RishtaWohi, SochNayi’ proposition in late 2010, it managed to cease the initiative back.

     

    But Colors was not a fad that would go away. Through the eight years since then, the channel has managed to keep the category leaders Star Plus and Zee TV on their toes, topping them on viewership in several weeks, including currently. This performance has largely come on the back of content outside the traditional fiction space, driven by reality shows and weekend series like Naagin, now in its third season. The channel has never shied away from innovating, and the launch of a live prime-time format Rising Star in 2017 is a testimony of that.

     

    The Colors’ journey is one of many glorious achievement, though there have been the odd disappointment here and there too. I often wonder how this category would have shaped up if this channel had not launched. The answer is that the category would have poorer without Colors. Less differentiated, less vibrant.

     

    Congratulations to everyone at Viacom18 and Colors, who has been a part of this journey, including the founding team, that has moved on since. Hope the next decade is even more remarkable, even more colorful.

     

     

  • The launch marks the 25th season in totality for the franchise in India

    Bigg Boss makes its debut in Malayalam

    By A Correspondent

     

    After launching in Hindi, Kannada, Bangla, Telugu, Marathi and Tamil, reality show Bigg Boss has launched its premiere season in Malayalam. The launch marks the 25th season in totality for the franchise in India. The reality show will be aired on Asianet and hosted by popular Malayalam film actor Mohanlal.

     

    Talking about the completion of 25 seasons of the franchise in India market, Abhishek Rege, CEO, Endemol Shine India said: “Bigg Boss, now in its 7th language and 25th season, is undoubtedly the most popular non-scripted show across the country entertaining viewers from all strata of society. We have come a long way since the launch in 2006. The series has always been well received and has become part of the Nation’s TV viewing culture.  The ongoing appreciation for the franchise, no matter the language is testament to the effort of the Creative and Production teams at Endemol Shine India and their understanding of geographies and of local audiences. The love for the show constantly encourages us to strive to entertain, innovate and engage the viewers’ season after season.”

     

    Asianet will air Bigg Boss Monday through Friday at 9.30pm and on Saturdays and Sundays at 9pm

     

     

  • The show will be anchored by actor-director-producer, Mahesh Manjrekar

    Bigg Boss to launch on April 15

    By A Correspondent

     

    After entertaining viewers across Hindi, Kannada, Bangla, Tamil and Telugu speaking markets, Bigg Boss is ready to capture the imagination of Marathi viewers. The first ever edition of Bigg Boss in Marathi will launch on April 15 at 7pm and subsequent episodes shall air from Monday to Saturday at 9.30pm while the Sunday episode will air at 9pm. The show will be anchored by actor-director-producer Mahesh

     

    Dabur Red Paste, has joined hands with Bigg Boss Marathi as the Presenting Sponsor in its very first edition. The show is Co-Powered by Rin, along with Special Partners Dabur Anmol Jasmine Hair Oil, Nirvana Realty’s Wollywood and Haware Intelligentia.

     

    Said Ravish Kumar – Head, Regional Entertainment, Viacom18: “The show has seen significant viewer loyalty over the years, in all languages and in all countries. The last couple of years have also seen a considerable rise in viewership in the Marathi market which can be attributed to shows with strong production values and innovative concepts. With learnings from 40 markets from across the globe we are launching the very first season of Bigg Boss in Marathi, tailor made as per the coming of age Marathi viewers who love disruptive content, human drama, real emotions and cinematic production values”.

     

    Added Nikhil Sane – Business Head, Colors Marathi, Gujarati and Viacom18 Motion Pictures Regional Movies: “Bigg Boss is pure reality in its absolute form. As a content creator I have seen the Marathi viewers evolve over time. On customizing Bigg Boss for the Marathi viewers, the thought was to break the mould and showcase something incredible that will generate tremendous curiosity. Our eclectic mix of contestants range from 25 to 65 years of age and their quirks and works will delight the viewers! And to control the reins of these inmates we have got on-board the very imposing and accomplished Mahesh Manjrekar, whose quick wittedness will keep the audiences glued to the show.”

     

     

  • The channel has roped in Marathi Director-Producer, Mahesh Manjrekar to host the Marathi version of the show

    Bigg Boss now also in Marathi

     

     

    Colors Marathi has announced the launch of the Marathi version of its reality TV show – Bigg Boss. Set to launch on April 15, the channel has roped in well-known producer-director-actor Mahesh Manjrekar to host the show.

     

    Said Ravish Kumar – Head, Regional Entertainment, Viacom18: “Bigg Boss has been one of the most successful franchises that we have. It has done wonders in every language that it has been adapted to. We believe that the Marathi viewers have worked up a great appetite for this kind of cutting edge content and this is just the right time to give them an experience that is at par with the national channels.”

     

    Added Nikhil Sane – Business Head, Viacom18 Motion Pictures Marathi, Colors Marathi and Gujarati, “The Marathi viewers have evolved to a great degree and there are very few Reality formats on Marathi television that holds their interests. Bigg Boss as a concept has borne excellent results for our Hindi, Bangla and Kannada counterparts. The show is an emotional roller coaster ride for the inmates as well the audiences. The format offers tremendous viewer engagement, and who better to present it than maverick actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar. Mahesh has explored the raw elements of human nature in his films and is best suited to take our viewers through this journey on television.”