GECs
StarOne’s flagship show ‘Laughter Challenge’ ends on a high note
MUMBAI: Star One’s flagship show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (TGILC) clocked an all-time high of 10.2 TVR in its final appearance, making it the eighth most watched show among Hindi viewers in the C&S homes.
In fact, TGILC is the highest rated comedy show in the last three years, according to Tam data . In the 15 weeks of its total run, the show reached 19.8 million viewers. And in Star One’s TG (CS ABC 4+ 8 metros 1Mn+), it rated 13.52 TVR.
The show recorded the highest ratings in Mumbai, delivering 17.61 TVRs in the C&S 4+ TG. While Delhi enjoyed 12.08 TVR, Kolkata recorded 7.45 TVR.
Apart from getting Star One on track in terms of the upward climb, the show also managed to outwit competition in the
10 -11 pm slot with the TGILC leading in the time band with a huge margin.
Interestingly, TGILC has been a very low cost proposition, with industry estimates pegging the total cost of the show including marketing at below Rs 200 million.
Says Star one programming head Ravi Menon, “The numbers clocked by TGILC is a clear indication on how the show has gained popularity steadily with the audiences. Secondly, it also is a statement which proves that one does not need international formats to create television blockbusters, but well thought through home grown formats also deliver at par if not better.”
Menon further added that the laughter challenge is a classical example of a home grown format and the show has actually brought about a revival of stand up comedy in India.
The success of the comedy-based shows ( The Great Indian Comedy Show and The Great Indian Laughter Challenge) in attracting high ratings has inspired Star One to continue investing in this genre. Replacing TGILC in the Friday 10 pm – 11 pm slot will be another humour-based show titled The Great Indian Laughter Champion starting tonight (16 September) for the next 13 weeks.
Explains Menon, “The Great Indian Laughter Champion is an enriched form of the TGILC. The humour will be more refined and tongue- in-cheek. I expect this show also to clock and consolidate at around 10 TVR. “
Star One aims at increasing penetration in semi-metros by capitalising on the laughter challenge equity. The agenda ahead is to take the laughter challenge brand on-ground weaving concepts around the central theme of the show in time to come.
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.
