GECs
KBC Season 12 registers over 2.5 million entries on day one
MUMBAI: The countdown for the country's most revered seat has officially begun. Kaun Banega Crorepati is back with its 12th season led by the legendary host Amitabh Bachchan. With the initiation of the online registrations, the show has already opened to a thunderous response clocking more than 2.5 million entries on day one of registrations. The participation through SonyLIV has gone up by over 360%, as compared to last year, underlining the trend towards acceptance of digital as the preferred mode for registration.
With a rise in digital consumption amongst users, the entire selection process of KBC 12 has been planned virtually to scale up engagement and drive participation. The new addition of knowledge test and video submission introduced as a part of the selection process is being well-received by the users.
Over the last two decades, Kaun Banega Crorepati has redefined the value of knowledge. The show has changed fortunes and inspires generations of fans to pursue their aspirations through education and learning. Registrations for this season are open until May 22nd. Users can participate by answering the question asked by Bachchan every day at 9p.m. on Sony Entertainment Television. The answers can be sent either through the SonyLIV app or SMS.
Amogh Dusad, head, programming and new initiatives, digital business, said: “A 360 percent growth in participation of KBC Registration on SonyLIV further reinforces the popularity and appeal of KBC and also underlines the increase in penetration of SonyLIV as a platform. This year, with a 100% digital selection process for KBC, one can expect much higher level of engagement on SonyLIV and a never-before interactive 2nd screen experience.”
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.
