GECs
Sony makes headway with ‘Fame Gurukul’ in 8:30 – 9 pm slot
MUMBAI: Sony’s reality soap opera Fame Gurukul may not be anywhere near working wonder numbers which its predecessor Indian Idol did, but it is on a slow upward curve.
And it is waking up a dead slot on the channel. Aired at 8.30-9 pm, the show has moved up from its debut rating of 1.4 TVR in week 27 to 2.2 TVR in week 32 (HSM; CS4+) according to Tam data. This is still far below industry expectations. But the slot was clocking an average rating of 0.8 TVR prior to the launch of the show.
Sony had to battle against Star Plus’ four-year running blockbuster soap Kasautii Zindagi Kay. Earlier efforts with Ayushmaan had flopped miserably. With Fame Gurukul, the channel is trying out a counter programming strategy. As it has done with CID Special Bureau and Crime Patrol post 10 pm.
Explains Sony’s EVP and business head Tarun Katial, “The effort of Sony has always been to provide differentiated content. Fame Gurukul is a classical example of counter programming whether one looks at style, treatment or genre as well as reality TV Vs a daily soap. The attempt has also been to expand the category and bring in new viewers.”
The performance of Fame Gurukul has seen some growth (see table below).
Fame Gurukul’s performance till date
Show Period TVR Slot
Fame Gurukul Week 27 1.4 8:30 – 9 pm
Fame Gurukul Week 28 1.3 8:30 – 9 pm
Fame Gurukul Week 29 1.8 8:30 – 9 pm
Fame Gurukul Week 30 1.9 8:30 – 9 pm
Fame Gurukul Week 31 2.4 8:30 – 9 PM
Fame Gurukul Week 32 2.2 8:30 – 9 PM
Source : TAM data; HSM; CS4+; Monday to Thursday
Interestingly, Star Plus’ Kasautii Zindagi Kay (KZK) has seen a dip, if one looks at week 31 and 32.
Show Period TVR Slot
Kasautii… Week 27 11.4 8:30 – 9 PM
Kasautii… Week 28 12.3 8:30 – 9 PM
Kasautii… Week 29 11.5 8:30 – 9 PM
Kasautii… Week 30 11.9 8:30 – 9 PM
Kasautii… Week 31 9.5 8:30 – 9 PM
Kasautii… Week 32 8.6 8:30 – 9 PM
Source : TAM data; HSM; CS4+; Monday to Thursday
If one were to analyse KZK’s week 31and 32 performance, the fall may be attributed to the repeat episode aired in week 31, on account of the rains. Star, however, dismisses this as “minor fluctuations.”
As for Sony, Katial claims Fame Gurukul has managed to draw in audiences from the lower SECs. According to TAM data, the show received its peak TVRs from SEC DE with 4.8 TVR (HSM; week 27 -32), followed by females at 4.3 TVR. “This is quite encouraging for Sony which is generally skewed towards the upper SECs,” says Katial.
The process of broadbasing Sony’s audience base started with Indian Idol. Katial further explains that Fame Gurukul’s growth is organic in nature and the shows ratings will rise further only to peak in the last five to six weeks.
For now, at least, it seems to be following the trajectory he has in mind. Now to sustain it and make it climb further is the task that Katial has cut out for him.
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.
