GECs
Star Plus Dopahar launched with original, diverse and differentiated content
MUMBAI: Star Plus has announced Star Plus Dopahar, an afternoon time-band (12:30 to 3 pm) on television, with a spectrum of original, diverse and differentiated content.
In a category with fierce competition, Star Plus, as the leader, has always anchored change by redefining the rules of the game. The commitment of the brand to continuously reinvent by bringing cutting-edge, differentiated content keeping the viewer as the core focus, has ensured it is always at its numero uno position.
The channel is set to disrupt the grammar of the category yet again with the launch of a fresh viewership slot pioneering fresh, gripping, original content in afternoons with four shows in Star Plus Dopahar.
Star Plus GM Narayan Sundararaman said, “We, at Star Plus, are constantly striving to reframe and reinvent Hindi entertainment television. Our goal is to make compelling content available to the consumers across all parts of the day. There is a sizeable television viewing audience in the afternoon. At present, the options available to these viewers are repeat telecasts. Our aim is to present viewers with a spectrum of original content therein growing the entire category. The insight that has fuelled the proposition is a simple one: Afternoon is the only time of the day when the women of the house have a few moments to themselves. Today’s women value her ‘me time’ and Star Plus is committed to engage her with original stories, specially created for her.”
The myriad bouquet of content for this afternoon slot has the best storytellers in the country coming together — Shashi and Sumeet Mittal, Sandip Sickand and Balaji Telefilms, Ved Raj, Dheeraj Sarna, Nandita Mehra and Bhairavai Raichura.
Star Plus president and head of content Gaurav Banerjee, “We believe it is compelling stories which will draw viewers to the shows in the afternoon. We have seen this with several breakaway hits in the past where we had observed viewership habits by offering cutting-edge and differentiated content. Our endeavour is to provide shows with varied storylines and different backgrounds that strike a chord with the viewers which they can relate to — emotionally, so that they connect with the characters, thus truly becoming companions in ‘dopahar’.
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.
