Videshi spice on desi tube - Article Of Gaurav

Videshi spice on desi tube

Well, there is something interesting brewing on the prime time, albeit on the same time band, but on a different platform. Fierce competition to grab more eyeballs and the need to come up with fresh and innovative programming mix have led English GECs to offer a variety of genres, formats and content on prime time. As the urban viewer channel hops, English shows with their latest seasons are getting the required eyeballs.

The industry feels the logic is simple — to supply fresh content that is in demand and also to provide Indian content in English. "Today's generation doesn't like the old content, as it is already available online. They always look for the freshest shows," says spokesperson from a leading English GEC, who adds, "To meet viewers' requirements, there is immense competition amongst the English GECs to offer the current seasons which will attract the Indian

audience. According to a research, there was a demand for Indian content in English, which was missing on Indian screens. So, few home grown properties like India's Sexiest Bachelor, India's Glam Diva, The Great Gig in The Sky, etc."

This is leading to interesting programming mix where fiction, lifestyle and other genres are packaged into a nice potpourri. Pankaj Saxena, head of programming, South Asia of another English GEC, says, "The demand for English content is leading to emergence of new channels, new shows on existing channels and a lot of programming innovations. While the latest seasons of Top Gear and The Graham Norton Show have been telecast soon after their international premiere, there are plans to bring several other titles into this fold in the near future."

Indian telly actors too feel, there is lot one gets to notice in these shows. Actor Gaurav Khanna, says, "There is a stark contrast between the way detection, for that matter thriller, is presented by our showmakers and English showmakers on TV. Shows like Dexter and Sherlock tell you about treatment to storylines, the fine detailing and how to keep the suspense going. We need to really catch up with the West to come up with such stuff."

According to industry sources, not only does the Indian viewer relate to blockbuster shows like Dexter, Two And A Half Men, Sherlock et al, shows with different format like Come Dine With Me and Undercover Boss USA which offers a cathartic, emotional experience for the viewer, are also getting eyeballs. "People have started playing the Come Dine With Me game in their own social circles — visiting friends for a meal prepared by them, reciprocating and then rating the experience. And why not? Cooking is a life skill. Eating together is a primordial joy. Competing to win is human nature," says Saxena.

Anurag Bedi, business head, of a leading English GEC , says, "From psychological dramas like A Gifted Man to fictional reality shows like Make It Or Break It and comedies like The Big Bang Theory to celeb reality shows like Keeping up with The Kardashians, there is entertainment that cuts across viewing tastes." This has only upped the competition factor on who shops for the latest season and telecasts first. Says Bedi, "The competition has always been there. Increasingly, it's about how much of connect your content offering finds with the viewers. The English GEC viewer is a very fast evolving, definitive person who is informed of the choices — both of content and viewing platforms — an extremely wired individual. As a broadcaster it is our endeavor to offer him the 'latest of the best'."

As the soap box sizzles with content packaged in a different language and different storylines meant for the savvy viewer, there is reason to channel surf of course.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/Videshi-spice-on-desi-tube/articleshow/15292527.cms

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