GECs
Eleven years on, ‘Bigg Boss’ still bankable as ever
MUMBAI: Ever since its launch more than a decade ago, reality show Bigg Boss has never failed to be an entertainment proposition for audiences. The first edition, with Arshad Warsi as the host on Sony Entertainment Television, saw a TRP rating of 2.72. After shifting to Colors for the next 10 years, it got the highest TRP rating of 6.99.
Bigg Boss 11 got a rating of 6.35 TRPs and the finale garnered 8.93 TRPs. This year, the show was also streamed on the Viacom18’s OTT app Voot, giving it a big boost in terms of views. A large chunk of the app’s viewers were hooked to the reality show. Those who couldn’t catch the live show, had the option of watching it on MTV or Voot (where it was available the next day).
Season four and 11 have been the series with the highest ratings and both had Salman Khan as host. Season four got 5.10 TRPs and 6.90 during the finale. There was a struggle to keep viewers hooked in season 8. Starting off with 5.65 TRPs, it nosedived to between 3.72 and 3.42 TRPs when Farah Khan hosted the show for a few episodes. The finale then got back to 6.14 TRPs.
Reports state that about Rs 4-5 crore is spent per episode, and it is the most expensive show for Colors. In a media report, Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak stated that renewals have been on a 12-15 per cent increase and spot buys for advertisements are being given at the rate of Rs 3-4 lakh per second.
Season nine saw record low ratings when Prince Narula was the winner. The tenth season saw a good spike, most likely due to the addition of commoners in the show and Manveer Gurjar was the winner. It got average TRP ratings of 3.54.
Bigg Boss 11 was watched by more than 151 million viewers in the first four weeks of its launch and the finale garnered 10.6 million impressions with 3.9 TVRs making it the highest ever viewership for any episode of non-fiction or reality show across Hindi GECs in the last one year.
Though Colors has time and again proved its mettle, we must see how long it can sustain the Bigg Boss phenomenon raging through India.
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“You call ‘Bigg Boss’ scripted or non-scripted you will end up watching it”- Abhishek Rege
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.
