|
After establishing
the 9-10 pm slot with two Balaji soaps, Sony Entertainment Television
will focus on the 8.30 pm band on weekdays which is currently in
the domain of Star Plus and Zee TV. "We are re-engineering
the 8.30 pm slot. We will be launching two serials, which are differentiators
from the typical soaps telecast by Zee TV and Star Plus. While Zee
TV has its long-running serials in this time band, Star Plus also
has a soap," said Nachiket Pantvaidya, vice president, programming,
Sony Entertainment Television.
Dhadkan, a
doctor’s show produced by Aqua Motion Pictures, will be launched
towards the end of January or first week of February. It will run
thrice a week. Star Plus is also planning to launch a one-hour doctor’s
show called Sanjeevani based on Chicago Hope, but at the 9 pm slot
Hubahu, a story of twins who interchange their lives, will also
be launched at the 8.30 pm band. Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, the soap
which is currently running at that slot, will be moved to the afternoon
band. It will not have a repeat telecast.
"We aim
to attract a new set of audiences who are not hooked on to soaps.
Our sector-based shows could act as a ‘tune-in’ for two
of our popular soaps, Kkusum and Kutumb. By offering a different
kind of programming from the rival channels Star Plus and Zee TV,
we hope to provide the audience an alternative," said Pantvaidya.
The afternoon band will be revamped with the launch of a soap produced
by Balaji Telefilms in the first or second week of February. The
shifting of Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka from prime time will further strengthen
the afternoon programming, said Pantvaidya. Sony, which was ruling
the afternoon audiences, has lost its supremacy to Star Plus.
"Aahat,
a long running thriller, is likely to be dropped. It will be replaced
by Achanak in March or April 2002. Aahat benefits from its previous
show, CID. If we push it to another time band, its ratings may dip.
We are planning to replace it with a linear thriller, Achanak. Our
thriller programmes used to have two-part formats. Achanak will
break that pattern and have a continuity thread," said Pantvaidya.
The spikes for the channel in January and February, according to
Pantvaidya, will be provided by two events, Femina Miss India and
Filmfare awards.
|
