Posted:
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Reality TV shows under the scanner
Prasad Ramamurthy
Thursday, October 26, 2006 (Mumbai):
It is a high stakes battle for all participants of reality shows, which gives instant fame and fortune at the end and even future prospects.
But how far do people, even celebrities, participating in the show go to ensure that the outcome is tilted in their favour. And how real are reality TV shows?
The Thane police in Maharashtra stumbled upon a startling fact about how a TV star couple participating in a celebrity reality dance show tried to influence the outcome in their favour.
This is a reality dance show where two of its actors seem to have made the wrong moves. TV actors Shweta Kawatra and Manav Gohil, ohno.. 😠i really like the guy.. who the Thane Police say, bought and distributed 200 SIM cards to friends and acquaintances.
Cards were not bought in their name but in the names of two other people; possibly in the hope of boosting the votes polled in their favour.
The actors are competing in "Star One's" reality dance show Nach Baliye, where they are locked in a high stakes battle with three other celebrity couples.
Reality check
The competition is poised at a crucial stage.
The matter came to light when the Thane Police was investigating another complaint.
"We had received a complaint from a housewife that she was getting obscene SMSes. We traced the number and found out that her husband was the one sending her the messages. When we called the woman and told her it was her husband she said she didn't want to proceed with the case," said Sanjay Shintre, DCP, Thane police.
Shweta, Manav and "Star One" have all refused to comment on the issue. But this isn't the first time the show has found itself in the news.
In its last season, a Mumbai newspaper had reported rumors of other contestants using similar means to garner votes.
"Sony's" Indian Idol too was hit by accusations of result fixing when one of the contestants was voted out through audience SMSes.
Instances like these have repeatedly raised the issue of just how real are India's reality shows?
Increasing votes
Channels like "Star" and "Sony" insist that contestants cannot really influence the outcome of shows by getting a few thousand votes because their normal voting volume is in lakhs. A number, they say, is only increasing.
"In the past few years broadcasters have looked at it as a means of creating stickiness but now it's gone beyond that. Now we can carry a revenue stream out of it," said Kaushal Modi, VP Licensing, Sony.
Also channels claim they employ data verification agencies that look closely at SMSes. They also have rules on the number of SMSes allowed from a particular number.
These rules change with the show format and the channel it's shown on. For instance "Star One's" Nach Baliye allows 20 SMSes per number while "Sony's" Jhalak Dikhla Ja will allow 500 SMSs a week from a particular number.
Channels claim that if there are too many SMS coming from a certain number they call the service provider and the user to check if the number is being used by a bonafide user.
Reality TV shows under the scanner
Prasad Ramamurthy
Thursday, October 26, 2006 (Mumbai):
It is a high stakes battle for all participants of reality shows, which gives instant fame and fortune at the end and even future prospects.
But how far do people, even celebrities, participating in the show go to ensure that the outcome is tilted in their favour. And how real are reality TV shows?
The Thane police in Maharashtra stumbled upon a startling fact about how a TV star couple participating in a celebrity reality dance show tried to influence the outcome in their favour.
This is a reality dance show where two of its actors seem to have made the wrong moves. TV actors Shweta Kawatra and Manav Gohil, ohno.. 😠i really like the guy.. who the Thane Police say, bought and distributed 200 SIM cards to friends and acquaintances.
Cards were not bought in their name but in the names of two other people; possibly in the hope of boosting the votes polled in their favour.
The actors are competing in "Star One's" reality dance show Nach Baliye, where they are locked in a high stakes battle with three other celebrity couples.
Reality check
The competition is poised at a crucial stage.
The matter came to light when the Thane Police was investigating another complaint.
"We had received a complaint from a housewife that she was getting obscene SMSes. We traced the number and found out that her husband was the one sending her the messages. When we called the woman and told her it was her husband she said she didn't want to proceed with the case," said Sanjay Shintre, DCP, Thane police.
Shweta, Manav and "Star One" have all refused to comment on the issue. But this isn't the first time the show has found itself in the news.
In its last season, a Mumbai newspaper had reported rumors of other contestants using similar means to garner votes.
"Sony's" Indian Idol too was hit by accusations of result fixing when one of the contestants was voted out through audience SMSes.
Instances like these have repeatedly raised the issue of just how real are India's reality shows?
Increasing votes
Channels like "Star" and "Sony" insist that contestants cannot really influence the outcome of shows by getting a few thousand votes because their normal voting volume is in lakhs. A number, they say, is only increasing.
"In the past few years broadcasters have looked at it as a means of creating stickiness but now it's gone beyond that. Now we can carry a revenue stream out of it," said Kaushal Modi, VP Licensing, Sony.
Also channels claim they employ data verification agencies that look closely at SMSes. They also have rules on the number of SMSes allowed from a particular number.
These rules change with the show format and the channel it's shown on. For instance "Star One's" Nach Baliye allows 20 SMSes per number while "Sony's" Jhalak Dikhla Ja will allow 500 SMSs a week from a particular number.
Channels claim that if there are too many SMS coming from a certain number they call the service provider and the user to check if the number is being used by a bonafide user.
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