MUMBAI: ETC Punjabi has hit upon a novel idea for the year end.

A musical extravaganza slotted for New Year’s Eve has been tied to a contest which offers lucrative prizes for viewers in order to encourage them to participate on SMS. The prizes include a trip to South Africa, cars, mobile phones, television and CD players, CDs and vacuum cleaners. Viewers will get to see the 50 top Punjabi pop hits of the year; back to back. The mega countdown will be entirely based on viewers’ choice.

Between 21-26 December, the channel ran a scroll throughout the day inviting viewers to send in their favourite hit of 2002. Out of the responses received, 50 respondents stand to win prizes. The song that gets maximum requests becomes number one.

From 28 -31 December, another scroll invites viewers to watch the Mega Countdown Show and guess their choice of 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th, 10th and first song.

Viewers have to send their choices through SMS to 303 from their mobile phones. The winner of songs number 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 and one would be declared online on songs number 45, 35, 25, 15, 5 and after the number one song. Participating service providers include Airtel, BPL Mobile, Escotel, Command, Oasis, and Spice.