GECs
Star readies its arsenal for post KBC phase
For the flagship channel of the Star network, it could be a tall order retaining a hold on audiences in the 9 PM slot after 9 January. But lest it be said that the channel is not trying its best, Star is lining up a variety of new shows on all bands to keep those fickle viewers from reaching for the remote.
A strong line up of soaps is waiting to be unleashed on the channel as the year draws to a close. The channel has also packed in telecasts of a variety of events to ensure that the TRPs remain on a high.
The strongest weapon in Star’s arsenal is Kamzor Kadii Kaun, the Indian cousin of BBC’s The Weakest Link, which will be Star’s Christmas gift to viewers. Beginning 25 December at 9 PM, Neena Gupta takes on a bunch of participants in a keen battle for intellectual survival and a prize kitty of Rs 2.5 million. Siddharth Basu directs the show produced by BBC Worldwide in association with Star India.
Wednesdays 9 PM will be taken over by Sanjivani, a Cinevista Communications creation set around hospital life and the lives of four young doctors, and loosely structured like the hugely popular US show, ER. Beginning 16 January, the serial is directed by Kaushik Ghatak, and stars Mohnish Behl, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajiv Verma and Daisy Irani.
KBC Junior at 10 am on Sundays will be replaced by Bol Baby Bol, a show on which 10 children get to ask questions while adults guess the answers. Hosted by Manoj Pawa, it is an adaptation of Small Talk, produced by Freemantle India.
Immediately following on from 10:30 to 11 am there is Yehi Hai Right Price, a game show that begins 6 January. The format for this one has been picked up from a successful original, The Price is Right. Host Ronit Roy invites participants from among the audience to test their consumer knowledge and walk away with a host of products. Remember Tol Mol Ke Bol hosted by Ritu Raj on Zee TV a couple of years ago anyone?
A talk show, Kashmakash also makes its debut on 4 January at 3 PM Anchored by Renuka Shahane and written by Sathya Saran, the programme deals with marital and other problems, with experts providing solutions. Also in line is Wajood, a four part series directed by Sukhwant Dhadda that kicks off on 3 January at 8 PM Set in Punjab, it weaves a story of family feuds, misunderstandings and revenge. It stars Kanwaljit Singh, Ashish Chowdhary and Shraddha Nigam.
Saturday noons from 5 January will be dominated by the three headstrong protagonists of Eeena Meena Deeka, a whacky sitcom about three single women who hate to believe it’s a man’s world and are out to change it. This one boasts of Reena Roy, Anita Raaj and Asha Sachdev in lead roles. All three are filmstars from the eighties era who are now trying to make their presence felt on TV.
Star Plus has also filled in all the Sundays of January 2002 with proposed telecasts of glamorous events in the past months. Beginning with the Hero Honda Indian Television Academy Awards at 8 PM on 6 January, the channel will also show the Raymond International Fashion Awards at 11 am and the Best of Screen Awards at 8 PM on 13 January, the 8th annual Star Screen Awards at 8 PM on 20 January and a concert, Celebration of a Nation at 8 PM on 27 January. Hosted by lyricist Javed Akhtar, the concert features Sukhvinder, Abhijeet, Jaspinder Narula, Kumar Sanu, Usha Uthup and veteran singer Mahendra Kapoor. Star’s Republic Day treat for viewers is J P Dutta’s Border.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
