GECs
Sabe TV banks on thrillers to woo audiences, improve ratings
While Star banks on saas bahu soaps and game shows to retain the top slot, Zee pegs its hopes on mythologicals after its relaunch debacle and Sahara pushes soaps to increase viewership, Sabe TV has decided to go the thriller way to inject fresh life into the channel.
 Ramesh Bhatkar returns to Sabe TV as Colonell |
The Adhikari brothers have roped in their old favourite Ramesh Bhatkar to play the lead role in Colonell, a daily series that premieres on Sabe from December 3 at 10:40 pm. With Colonell, the Adhikaris are, in all probability hoping to regain lost glory by latching on to the thriller genre that propelled them into the big league in the pre-satellite days.
The channel, which claims that Colonell is the desi version of Mr Bond, will air the serial from Mondays to Thursdays. The Colonell will be aided by a trio of super sleuths in his fight against crime. Each story within the series will run for four consecutive days, so viewers have to stay glued to the idiot box every day.
Colonell portrays a man for whom duty is first and justice vital, and how he goes around solving cases with skill, speed and panache with extraordinary outcomes to each encounter.
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Another new addition is Telethriller, a 90-minute long ‘mini-film’ to be aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm, premiering from 2 December 2001. Telethriller promises nail biting suspense, action packed chases and mind boggling drama that will keep viewers glued right up to the climax. Telethriller will have a new storyline each week.
If director Gautam Adhikari is able to wean audiences away from the all too familiar family soaps, this might just be the dose required to infuse new life into the channel. Or is Sabe banking on numerology (note the extra alphabet in Colonell) to work its magic?
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.
