All channels up the ante to face Sony TV's KBC onslaught

Year after year, Kaun Banega Crorepati has done wonders at the TRP chart. With each season it has grown in popularity and churned out episodes that became etched in the minds of viewers. Now there is a buzz in the media as season 6 is all set to hit the screens tonight (7 September 2012) on Sony Entertainment Television. And there is not much of a doubt that the magic of Amitabh ‘Big B’ Bachchan will again spill and how. With KBC coming in, lots of viewers of other shows on different channels are expected to shift and turn on tubes to watch the game show. Does that mean it will affect the numbers of all these channels? There are high chances. But it certainly doesn’t mean that the broadcaster honchos are not strategizing to stay put and maintain positions in the TRP race. KBC will air at 8.30 pm tonight and to step up competition Zee TV is airing a Maha integration sequence of 90 minutes beginning at the same hour. Plots of Hitler Didi, Pavitra Rishta and Phir Subah Hogi have been merged. We have already written about it. When it comes to Life OK, they have planned a special one hour episode for their popular show Mahadev on Sunday (9 September 2012). And on the strategy this is what Business Head, Ajit Thakur had to say, “It doesn’t really matter if KBC or any other show comes up in any other channel. We have our different sets of strategies which we stick to. Programming will be very aggressive for the next three months. When it comes to Mahadev, it was planned before.” Colors and Sahara One are kicked with the launch of Sur-Kshetra which will air from tomorrow (9 September). They would hope to maintain numbers in wake of KBC airing in the weekend slot. Furthermore, Star Plus, the leading channel in terms of numbers, will also churn out a maha episode of Diya Aur Baati Hum tonight. We got in touch with and even sent a mail query to channel head Nachiket Pantvaidya to learn about Star Plus’ strategy to maintain numbers in the 8.30pm weekend slot keeping in light KBC’s launch, but the PR called us up later and said, “We choose not to comment”. Anyways, all we can sum up is that we all will anxiously wait for the TRP results next week. Will the dynamics change or the there will be no ripples in the water…let’s wait and watch…