MUMBAI: Zee TV is turning bullish on the gameshow genre with two big ticket properties in the pipeline.
It is a known fact that the channel has a Subhash Chandra-driven reality gameshow coming up in Business Baazigar. But there is another big property it has kept under wraps and this one beats even the Star Plus show KBC2 in prize money. The one in question, titled Kam ya Zyaada, will make an offer in the range of Rs 30 million.
A reliable source close to the company says the show, the Indian adaptation of an original Scandinavian format, is in the initial stage of planning. The format details are still awaited. According to the source, production house Optimystic is doing the show for Zee TV.
The company has kicked off its talks with telecom operators including Hutch, Airtel and Tata Indicom for a deal to enable the show's interactive features. The channel is yet to zero in on the launch date.
"Kam ya Zyaada is a gameshow that will be mainly driven by very strong interactive features. The SMS feature is an integral part of the whole format. Zee is presently in talks with all the major telecom operators to find the best deal," says a source.
It is learnt that Zee will present a celebrity anchor to drive the show. According to the source, the shortlisted candidates for the anchor's position figures top stars from the film and TV industry.
"Since the show is very anchor-driven and at the same time the competitior has a Bachchan-anchored programme in KBC2, Zee wants the presenter to be a charismatic person who is at the same time very high on the popularity charts," he adds.
Looking back, we had Zee fighting the first edition of KBC with the gameshow Sawal Dus Crore Ka. But the show, anchored by Anupam Kher and Manisha Koirala, failed to hit KBC and was consequently taken off in less than six months.
With KBC 2, the gameshow mania is back again with a vengeance in the Hindi television space. KBC 2 launches on Star Plus on 5 August. Then on Star One there is the desi version of the successful NBC reality show The Apprentice.
Sony Entertainment Television, on the other hand, has its biggie Indian Idol 2 coming up during the festival season while currently there is Fame Gurukul.
