GECs
Star lines up some more soapy nights
The decision has been taken. The once hugely popular Kaun Banega Crorepati is being phased slowly out of Star Plus, and family drama serials are taking pride of place on prime time once again.
From October 29, KBC will be aired only twice a week, while the channel will pull KBC Junior off the air from December. Star is now weaning audiences back to the family soap, with actor Aruna Irani’s maiden production venture, Desh Mein Nikala Hoga Chand, an NRI saga, taking over the Monday 9-10 pm slot. Balaji Telefilms’ Kasautii Zindagi Kay will start beaming from Monday to Thursday at 8.30 pm, from the end of October. Kundali, a popular serial that had to go off the air when Channel Nine Gold wound up, will be beamed on Star beginning October 25, 8 pm.
The Business Standard financial daily, quoting INTAM figures for KBC for the month of September, reports that while the cumulative programme viewership for the show is an impressive 2.01 million, its average programme viewership is only 828,000, compared with 1.8 million for the its top soap, Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
Sources in Star say that there are two to three more programmes lined up come November, but officials are not yet willing to divulge details. Discussions are still on where to slot these new shows. The possibilities are in the afternoon band, the late night band (post-11 pm) or the early evening band (7:30 pm – 9:00 pm).
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.
