GECs
Reality series at centre of AXN’s new programming initiative
AXN channel, part of the Sony Entertainment Television franchise, yesterday announced its new programming strategy which would be built around five programme slots – series, movies, adventure & reality, lifestyle sports and animation.
While elaborating on the new initiative, Shantonu Aditya, senior vice president franchise channels and distribution, announced a slew of new programmes in the reality genre. Billed as the “extraordinary month”, the programmes unveiled included the sequel to the “Survivor” series, “Survivor 2: The Australian Outback”. Also showcased were three new series – “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, “Core Culture” and “Exploring the Unknown”.
Queried on how the original “Survivor”, which attracted over 50 million viewers in the US in its final episode, fared in India, Aditya would only say that when the series was on air, it managed to capture 26 per cent of Indian audiences tuning into English programmes.
The final episode of “Survivor 2: The Australian Outback” aired on CBS in the US on Thursday and Tina Wesson, a nurse from Tennessee, walked away with the $ 1 million prize, it has been reported. “Survivor 2” never managed the kind of viewership that “Survivor” brought in but it was still a success for CBS. How Indian audiences take to “Survivor 2” considering the less than spectacular run of the original “Survivor” in India will be watched with interest.
AXN, which essentially targets 18 to 34-year-olds, currently reaches 18 million C&S households in India, Aditya said, quoting AC Nielsen TAM data. This was over 80 per cent growth from the 10 million penetration recorded in April last year, he added.
An interesting statistic that Aditya provided was that contrary to the general feeling that the channel had a largely young male viewership, 41 per cent of AXN’s audience was female. This figured favourably with the norm in the west which had a 46:54 female to male ratio, Aditya said.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
