GECs
25 Nov. episode of ‘Indian Idol’ garners 1 million+ votes
MUMBAI: One month since Indian Idol’s launch, Sony seems to enjoying not only a rise in viewership but also the benefits of an alternate revenue stream (via SMSs).
Idols claims to have received 555,884 phone calls and 590,206 sms votes in just three and a half hours after the telecast of their show on Thursday (25 November).
The first episode received over 420,000 votes polled in just 2 ½ hours. The channel, on seeing the response, in tandem with the telecom operators increased their bandwidth and the voting window was increased to 3 ½ hours. The resultant call volume hence has seen a close to three fold increase with 1.14 million votes being cast for Thursday’s episode.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Sony executive vice president programming and response Tarun Katial says, “This has been an unprecedented response witnessed for the first time. This can only be attributed to the high involvement and real emotion that the show evokes.”
Katial also pointed out that very surprisingly 40 per cent of the votes tilted to one side, and although the judges prediction of the three candidates came through, one other was also voted in by the viewers reinforcing the levels of interaction that the show was commanding.
SET executive vice president Sunil Lulla explained, “There have been a number of SMS initiatives that have taken place earlier, but none have thrown up such a response.”
Apparently, Jassi.. Received 250,000 votes and on average for any show SMS’s varied in the range of 10,000 to 60,000.
Talking to Lulla on the competition latest effort Super Singer which debuts on 2 December at 9 pm, half hour beforeIndian Idol, and its first episode to be aired across the network, he said that SET as a platform was much bigger than Channel [V] and the voting response has further shown the co-relation between the viewers and the interactivity level of the show.
Even as Idol goes from strength to strength, lead network Star has its own talent hunt ready to roll. Channel [V]’s Super Singer debuts on 2 December at 9 pm, (not so coincidentally?) half an hour before Idol. Additionally, the first episode of Super Singer is being provided that extra push by being provided airplay across the network.
How the talent hunts on the two rival networks face off should make for interesting viewing.
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.
