GECs
Dubbed movie-formula works for Vijay TV in Tamil
MUMBAI: Star’s Tamil channel Vijay TV, which had kicked off its Hollywood movie campaign early this year, says the Jurassic Park series it telecast during June, July and August has helped the channel to steal a march over its competitors, quoting TAM ratings.
During the telecast of Jurassic Park on 27 June at 11:30 am, Vijay TV had 62 per cent of the channel share in the 4+ ABC C&S Chennai market against Raj TV (2 per cent), KTV (14 per cent) and Jaya TV (2.5 per cent). For the Tamil Nadu market, Vijay TV grabbed 51 per cent of the channel share, according to TAM.
The remaining two of the Jurassic Park series – The Lost World (telecast on 25 July) and Jurassic Park 3 (telecast on 29 August) – helped Vijay to garner a channel share of 38 per cent and 48 per cent respectively in the Chennai market (4+ ABC C&S). For the Tamil Nadu market it was 36 and 39 per cent respectively.
The Tamil versions of Titanic and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon had also done a similar trick for Vijay earlier.
Explaining the channel’s decision to adopt the dubbed movie-formula to its programming strategy Vijay TV head of programming Suresh Iyer offers, “Films with non-duplicable content, films which doesn’t have any language or regional barrier, do have phenomenal mass appeal. We used this strategy and it has turned out to be a huge success.”
The channel had conducted an extensive off-air marketing campaign ahead of the Jurassic Park series in the hardcore Tamil speaking markets – Coimbatore and Madhurai. The campaign was conducted in schools where children were briefed about the Jurassic Park series. Vijay TV also ran a watch and win contest among the school children.
“The property is targeted at the whole family with a focus on the kids segment,” says Iyer.
In the on-air promotional campaign front, the channel ran SMS-based contests wherein questions were hurled at viewers during the telecast of the movies. The channel has been using the SMS contest feature for all its major properties.
Vijay TV also telecasts dubbed versions of Hollywood martial arts movies on Saturday nights. In the Hollywood blockbuster series the channel will air Independence Day on 26 September.
It is to be noted that the newly launched Telugu channel Alpha Telugu has also devoted a slot for dubbed Hollywood blockbusters. Tamil channel Jaya TV has also decided to jump into the bandwagon.
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.
