News/Articles Related To Star One.. - Page 7

Special Squad turns one
By: A hitList Correspondent
August 8, 2005

The cast and crew of UTV's Special Squad celebrated their first year anniversary at a party in Juhu A hitList Correspondent ALWAYS TOGETHER: Gauri Pradhan and Hiten Tejwani THE PARTY BEGINS WITH A BANG: Vipul Mayank with the cast BEHIND THE SCENES: Ravi Menon, head of programming, Star One, with Deepak Saigal COSYING UP: Bhanu Uday Singh with Kuljeet TETE-A-TETE: Raj Banerjee with Manva SWEET WHISPERS: Pankit with his wife Pics: Pradeep Dhivar

Win and shop

A new show on TV can help you buy a brand new washing machine worth Rs 20,000 for just Rs 20. Hosted by star comedian Sajid Khan, Super Sale on STAR One will feature three contestants challenging each other to collect Super Sale Rupees (SSR) and buying attractive items at special Super Sale Prices (SSP).

Joining Sajid in this fun game show is Neeti Mohan, the multi-faceted singing star of pop band Aasma. The game begins with 20 SSR being handed over to each of the three contestants, with right answers getting them 5 SSR and wrong answers setting them back by 5 SSR.

At the end of it all, the contestant with the most SSR gets the chance to go shopping through eight levels of items. Super Sale starts August 15, Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm

STAR One plans to shift from classes to masses with Super Sale



It's a proven fact that comedy works for STAR One. But that
hasn't stopped the channel from experimenting with other genres. The latest initiative from the channel – primarily targeted at the upwardly mobile viewers from metros – is a reality game show, Super Sale.

STAR One hopes to broaden its viewership base with this show, which is aimed at the great Indian middle class.

As Ravi Menon, head of programming, STAR One, says, "The show is all about winning products at an unbelievably low price. And in a market such as India, which has a huge number of price-conscious consumers from the great Indian middle class, the show is bound to generate interest among the viewers from sub-metros and smaller towns."

"In addition, the industry has already witnessed the success of such shows, which has an aspirational value. KBC is a great example for such kind of shows. In fact, people in India like watching other people winning, even if they are not part of it."

Super Sale, which is inspired by an international format show 'Sale of the Century', will be aired every Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm starting August 15.

The game show consists of several rounds where three contestants compete for the right to buy luxury products at exceptionally low prices. For instance, a contestant can buy a microwave oven and a DVD for only Rs 15.

The show is also banking on popular stand-up comedian Sajid Khan as its host to invite viewers. Neeti Mohan, a singer from Channel [v]'s pop band 'Aasma' is also trying her luck in the new role as co-host of the show.

Star One goes desi


Star India's youngest baby, born November 2004, is all set to tap the desi market. No longer will it talk to the metrosexual, Star One's going all desi with a vengeance to attract the 'small city audience'!
Sajid Khan in 'Super Sale': taking game shows to a different level
After the success of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, which pushed the channel into the top 50 shows, Star One is now targeting an audience that feels at home with desi packaging and content. Hence, the brat pack of Vinay Pathak, Gaurav Kapoor and Ranveer Shorey and their brand of tongue in cheek 'high society' have been pushed aside to make way for Shekhar Suman and his rustic, earthier tattle.

"Yes, we are trying to broad base our viewership and build a strong presence in the cities. For example, we were doing humour in TGICS, but now with the familiar face of Shekhar Suman, we have got his style of storytelling that is very simple and understandable. You know, a take on say, Paris Hilton, would have a greater effect on audiences if it is said in the Shekhar Suman way…it is the way that the story is told, that makes all the difference," smiles Star One programming head Ravi Menon.


'Remix': gen remix'd trying to woo the small city audience
But a case in point that makes this broadbasing a little surprising is the fact that the channel was launched with a clear target audience in mind (remember those huge hoardings with guys and girls with switches embedded in their foreheads?), why make loyal audience feel betrayed? "No, we are keeping the themes as they are and making innovations in the background score and the language. They are not drastic changes, but ones that will keep both sets of viewers happy," points out Ravi, who seems very upbeat about the latest game show on the channel that calls itself Super Sale, Sare sale ka Baap. This show too, concentrates on Hindi as it medium than English - Sajid Khan was brought in as the host primarily because of his command over the language.

The show will be aired Monday-Friday, from 15 August at 7:30 pm, thus expanding the


The Sarabhais: a family of opposites

prime time slot on the channel. The show will be followed by the channel's most popular show, Remix.

Star One's desi tune is now evident in all its shows. Take Remix for example. What started as a tale of four students in a upper class residential school, has now moved on to accommodate parent child relationships and issues relating to religion. The Indian living in the cities will perhaps connect with a guy who has an identity crisis over his turban or the guy whose mother can't speak English, than a super star and her starry tantrums.


'TGILC': Star One's chart topper!
In the other shows as well, a point has been made to attract the desi audience --- In Sarabhai…we have Monisha; in Siddhanth, we have a commoner's problem being sorted out, The Great Indian comedy Show has gone rustic with Shekhar Suman; Even Games Bond will have a different feel from the next episode.


Will the desi version of Star One give Star Plus a run for its money...let's see!

Validates StarOne programming head Ravi Menon, "Post eight, it is a bigger game and content is very strong across the channels. We are focussing on a 17-30 yrs target group (TG)."

Menon also states that Star One is looking at broadbasing itself, and 7:30 pm would be ideal for small towns and semi-metros, while 11 pm would be suitable for urban India. Asserts Menon, "Star One's prime time now starts with Saajid and ends with Shekhar (TGILC)."

Coming to sponsorship deals, Menon clearly states that currently all the prizes that will be given out will be borne by Star. "We are going to test the waters first and see how the show rates. Once its settles down we will pull in sponsors as Super Sale is a very sponsor friendly show."

Menon pegs his estimates in terms of TRPs between 2 - 3.




So, where is Star One heading? Shoots Menon, "Star One is moving towards light entertainment. Intense viewing today already very cluttered and Star Plus takes care of that. Star One will offer easy going content which is not essentially urban."

The channel has already started modifying its shows to ensure a broader reach ensuring its appeal to smaller towns as well.

Super Sale will also push Remix in terms of bringing in new audiences across TG's from Mondays to Thursdays.

When queried about the Friday plan; Menon stated that the 8:00 pm slot was one that they were eyeing very carefully. Interestingly, Star One's Bluff Master which was earlier slotted at 9:00 pm on Fridays has been pulled to Wednesdays at 9:00 pm. In fact, Menon has already started working on a sitcom for the 9:00 pm slot on Wednesdays post Bluff Master and has commissioned it to Hats Off productions.

Coming to the Star One's cash cow, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (TGILC), which comes to a close on 9 September, the channel is now readying a show titled Laughter Champions which will consist of the same faces that TGILC saw but will be bigger, bolder and brighter. The new show will be launched immediately with the close of TGILC on 16 September to ensure sustenance of eyeballs.

game show for die-hard shopaholics

Friday, August 12, 2005 17:30:13 IST
Hosted by Sajid Khan and Neeti Mohan, it tests Entertainment Knowledge quotient apart from GK


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SHOWBUZZ NETWORK
Shopaholics rejoice! Star One is launching a game show called 'Super Sale'. Hosted by Sajid Khan and Neeti Mohan, the star of pop band Aasma, the game begins with three contestants who will challenge one other over different rounds of the game and go all out to collect 'Super Sale Rupees' (SSR) to 'buy' attractive items at special 'Super Sale Prices' (SSP). After 20 SSRs are handed over to each of the contestants, Sajid will put pose a series of questions in a succession of rounds. The first contestant to hit the buzzer and give the correct answer wins another five SSRs. Any contestant who answers incorrectly, automatically loses five SSRs. As the rounds progress, Sajid and Neeti will tempt contestants to spend their winnings at the Super Sale Gift Shop (SSGS), which offers a host of exciting items at Super Sale Prices.
Apart from general knowledge, contestants need to brush up on their entertainment knowledge quotient to enable themselves to tackle the queries posed by Sajid. All prizes are "sold" to the contestant with the highest points in the round at throwaway prices, making it the 'Super Sale". The episodes will be aired from Independence Day, Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm. Mr Ravi Menon, Head of Programming, Star One said, "Super Sale is another offering from the channel."

PRO-FILE: Deven Bhojani

Deven Bhojani, who directs Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai on Star One and acts in Baa Bahu aur Baby (Star Plus)

Nitin Joshi

Pune, August 14: He started his television journey way back in 1986 with an episode of Malgudi Days entitled Nitya. There followed lots of films and loads of television shows. He was nominated for best supporting actor at the Filmfare Awards for the Aamir starrer Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander over a decade ago. However, you probably remember him better as the lovable household help, Karima, in Dekh Bhai Dekh or as Raju Rajkotwala in Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka. He's had important roles in Vzt, Tara, Hum Sub Ek Hain and more recently Office Office in which he was Patel, the man who saw two things behind every thing. He's one big, big bundle of talent who you now see as Satish Shah and Ratna Pathak's son-in-law, Dushyant, in Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai which he also directs.

Yes, that's Deven Bhojani for you. What's amazing is that he also finds time to star in the recently premiered Baa Bahu aur Baby on Star Plus that is produced by J.D. and Aatish Kapadia. ''Completely enjoying my work. Directing Sarabhai... has been a great experience. I also enjoy the character of Dushyant. As for Baa Bahu aur Baby, I play the youngest son of Baa, Gattu - it's a difficult role. Because Gattu may be 27 years old, but he is mentally under-developed. When I say under-developed, doesn't mean he is mentally retarded but his I.Q. level is low. He is a little childish. So there's a very thin line between the two and there is always the danger of going overboard. One should know how much is just right. Gattu also has an eating disorder, he is always hungry. So it's a tough part and I am trying hard to get it right.''

According to Deven, Baa Bahu aur Baby isn't a comedy but a soap with lots of emotions, drama and romance - and yes, it's got its own human element.

Coming back to Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, Deven is very happy with the response it is receiving and feels it's completely and absolutely because of team work. ''I am lucky to have a writer like Aatish. He is one of the best today. Also as producers they are very good. I get whatever I ask for. The characterization is so good, and of course the performances and yes, each time I try to give it my best. It's a perfect combination,'' feels Bhojani.

His directorial debut came from the same stable of producers - JD and Aatish - with Mein Office Tere Aangan Ki on Sahara. His association with these producers goes back some 20 years when they were doing Gujarati theatre and have done some successful plays together like Thank-you Kokila, Ek Bijane Gamta Rahiye, Aajowala Pharimalye (which was made into the Bachchan starrer Waqt). Is Deven too busy with TV for any theatre? ''No time for the last one year, since I have taken up direction trying to concentrate on that and my acting assignments. But yes, I do miss theatre a lot,'' he smiles in reminiscence.