Sony is Responsible for .................

Sandeep's Failure!!!

Today after a long time, I was listening to Sandeep's album, "Mere Saath Sara Jahan" and I was thinking, how much sony has been unfair to him. His songs would have done great, if they were promoted, whole heartedly!!! There are many songs in the album, jin ki agar video banti tu, it would have rocked. They organized a flop album launch show and actually did nothing to promote him.

For Abhijeet, they made 2 music videos and promoted them big time. He was called for every possible show and party. every Sony event. whereas Sandeep was hardly seen anywhere. he wasnt called once in season 3. he got one video, which was not even the best one. and wasn't promoted at all!!!

I think it is Sony's fault that Sandeep didn't got the due popularity which Abhijeet has today, even though he is not a better singer then Sandeep (my personal opinion) It is coz of sony, that every other person from other channel stand up and make a mockery of II contestants. If you dont respect ur own family members, then why would other ppl will!!!

if they think Karunya was deserving, then see now he has come out with an album, and honestly speaking there is nothing exceptional about it. It is just another album.

I hope they dont do the same with Prashant, and suppress his talent, like they did to Sandeep's!

Why blame Sony for not marketing Sandeep? Ultimately, Sony can only market something or someone which is marketable 😆

Does multiple voting automatically translate into popularity. Will the person who so willingly casts multiple votes for one contestant go out and buy that many CDs of that idol?? If the answer is NO, then the idols themselves must realise the value of single votes they get, who are their true supporters. If the voting is received from across the country, instead of just one region, it again shows the wide spread popularity, as opposed to the limited regional support/ popularity one enjoys.

Taking an example from SRGMP, Debojit, with his mass Assam and Eastern State support could not make major headway in Bollywood and is now content hosting the Eastern states version of the show, singing duma duma duma and Bengali film music. His counterpart - Nihira, who exited early, has sung main stream Bollywood film music and enjoys more popularity than Debojit. Vinit might have also enjoyed it, but possibly the world tour with his mentor kept him out of circulation for far too long to make an immediate impact.

Just my povs 😉 😳 😳 As I said, how can one blame Sony for not promoting Sandeep. Just see the concept of the show, as taken from the official web site

Indian Idol, the hugely popular adaptation of the blockbuster Pop Idol format took the nation by storm in its very first season and followed that with an equally popular season 2. While Indian Idol served as the ultimate platform for budding singers from across the nation to realise their dreams, the show went on to become the most entertaining and involving show to hit Indian television.

In keeping with its philosophy of offering innovative and distinct content, Sony Entertainment Television, in February announced the launch of the third series of this groundbreaking phenomenon, with an even bigger bang!

Indian Idol is a 'made-for-television phenomenon' that combines drama and reality with music, humour, thrill and glamour. The last two seasons experienced a collage of emotions, raising levels of viewer frenzy and excitement coupled with the contestants' tears and joys, heartbreak and jubilation, learning and achievements. With its immense popularity, Indian Idol will continue to showcase exceptional talent on the nation's biggest platform. The Indian Idol journey in search of 'Ek Awaaz Jispar Ho Desh Ko Naaz' promises to become an integral part of the viewers' lives drawing ardent support and a voting frenzy.

This year, too, Indian Idol will give the people of India the opportunity to chase their dreams and the power to make one talented aspirant 'Bharat Ki Shaan'. In addition to a recording contract with Sony BMG, the 'Indian Idol' will be awarded a contract with Sony Entertainment Television worth Rs 1 crore, thus catapulting him or her into unparalleled stardom, fame and fortune.

The new series will see two new judges; Alisha Chinai, whose album Made in India created history and ushered in new trends in pop music, and Udit Narayan, the extremely talented male playback singer who is known for his silken voice. The third judge is none other than Anu Maliik, one of the most successful and multi-talented music directors of today. His straight talking coupled with his 'singing shayari comments' has always kept the contestants at ease, making him one of the most talked about judges of Indian Idol.

For more, keep watching Sony Entertainment Television, Friday & Saturday at 9 p.m.

You can also SMS 'IDOL' to 2525 to get more info on Indian Idol Series 3.

Sony Entertainment Television

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India, India's No. 2 general entertainment television channel, is backed by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI). Its channels include Sony Entertainment Television, MAX, AXN, ANIMAX & SAB.

Launched in October 1995, Sony Entertainment Television is a Hindi General Entertainment Channel, focused at providing quality and innovative entertainment to viewers across India. Over the years, the channel has created significant marquee properties through an impressive line up of programs ranging from the light hearted to the supernatural, exploring various genres complimented by an explosive mix of glamorous events and Bollywood blockbusters.

Known for its innovative concepts and exciting formats, Sony Entertainment Television has been providing strong platforms for over 700 brands to reach over 38 million households in India. In addition, Sony Entertainment Television is also available in US, UK, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Sony Entertainment Television is a part the network of channels distributed by TheOneAlliance - a joint venture between SET India Pvt Ltd and Discovery Communications India. Other channels in TheOneAlliance network include MAX, Discovery, Discovery Travel & Living, SAB TV, MTV, Animal Planet, AXN, ANIMAX, NDTV 24X7, NDTV India, NDTV Profit, NICK and Ten Sports.

'Idols'

The international 'Idols' format was conceived in the United Kingdom by Simon Fuller's company 19TV and leading global Production Company, Fremantle Media. Produced by Thames and 19TV, the format premiered on the UK's ITV in 2001 as Pop Idol and has been rolled out across 28 countries to date with an overwhelming response leading to national frenzy and a massive ratings success.

In the USA alone, American Idol 4 regularly gained audiences of over 30 million viewers and an incredible 65 million phone votes were recorded for the final episode. The winner of the 4th series of American Idol, Carrie Underwood, stood head and shoulders above more than 1,00,000 contestants as the best undiscovered voice in America. With a new single rocketing up the charts and a debut album on the way, Carrie joins Kelly, Ruben and Fantasia as American Idol-made chart toppers.

In the UK, Pop Idol 2 outperformed the award-winning premiere series with the final episode, breaking voting records with in excess of 10 million votes recorded.

Fremantle Media

FreMantle Media is one of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories.

International drama programmes include Germany's top rated serial drama, Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten (Good Times Bad Times), the UK's most successful police drama, The Bill, and Australia's top soap, Neighbours.

Entertainment and factual entertainment successes range from the award winning international format, Idols, broadcast as prime time show, American Idol, on FOX in the US, to the grime busting format, How Clean is Your House? and factual entertainment series starring celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, Jamie's Kitchen.

FreMantle Media has production offices in over 20 countries worldwide, providing local sales and production support for its international TV brands such as Idols and the world's longest running game show, The Price is Right. The company's licensing operation, FreMantle Media Licensing Worldwide, exploits FreMantle Media's many strong brands across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing.

Fremantle International Distribution, the company's international distribution division licenses over 19,000 hours of programming to 150 countries worldwide including the outrageous antics of Mr Bean: The Animated Series, moving drama, The Return, starring Julie Walters, landmark documentary, The World at War and the hugely popular special, Britney Spears: In the Zone.

FreMantle Media is the content arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company.

Miditech Pvt. Ltd

Miditech is one of Asia's leading independent production companies that create a wide range of programming. From award winning documentaries to international format game shows, Miditech has earned a reputation for producing programs to meet the exacting standards of international broadcasters with over 400 hours of programming in 2005-2006.

Till about 3 years ago, Miditech focused almost entirely on documentaries and factual programming. It built a formidable reputation in these genres with hit shows like Living on the Edge, India's first environment series in 1996. Wheels, a weekly auto show, The Great Escape, Off the Beaten Path and The Real India Travel Show helped make Miditech the largest producer of travel content in India.

Then Hospital, Commando and R.A.A.A.H. established it firmly as a market leader in the fledgling 'reality' space on Indian television. In 2003 Miditech made an aggressive foray into the entertainment and fiction space with hit shows like Saara Aakash, Roadies, and India Ka Sabse Favourite, an interactive show where the nation voted each week for its favourite Bollywood stars. And there were many more.

When it comes to adapting and localising international formats for the Indian market, Miditech is clearly the leader. Miditech first produced Khelo Number Khelo and Kaarvaan Kismat Ka, two game show formats developed by Zeal Television in the United Kingdom, and followed that up with Indian Idol the local version of the international hit show Pop Idol; Dance Dance, the local version of the Australian show Strictly Dancing; Fame Gurukul, based on Fame Academy; the telenovella Complices Al Rescate, which became a daily kids soap called Hum 2 Hain Na; Play House Disney more recently the long running hit pre-school show Sesame Street as Galli Galli Sim Sim for telecast on the Turner Network and Doordarshan.

Miditech is promoted by the Alva Brothers Niret and Nikhil, who own 75 per cent of the company with the other 25 per cent held by ICICI Venture, the largest private equity and venture capital management company in India with aggregate funds under management in excess of $650 million.

Over the years, Miditech has won many national and international awards. Among them are the 'Green Oscar' or the 'Panda', Asian Television Awards Indian Telly Awards, Indian Academy Awards, The Silver Tree, The Pinnacle, etc.

The highlighted portion emphasis that voting frenzy is what the producers and channel seek, it matters not what happens to the contestant once the show is over. This reality show is designed to increase the TRPs of the channel, to market the channel and to market different brands more effectively. With such emphasis on such key factors, did Sandeep enjoy such wide scale support that Sony should market him. Was it a part of their contract with Sandeep? If so, Sandeep can take them to court. But what Sony promises on screen is not the ground reality. Ultimately, it is the written contract between Sony and the contestant which is a clincher on what Sony's obligations are towards that contestant.

Are u kidding me????? Sandeep should be very grateful to Sony TV. Who in the world would make an album of a singer like Sandeep??? I wouldnt. His album was a big floop. I am sure it was a big loss for Sony Tv.

Whereas Abhijeet was liked by all. He was the first Indian Idol even though I prefered Rahul Saxena and Rahul Vaidya but atleast Abhijeet knew how to sing whereas Sandeep sucks when it comes to singing.

How do u expect Sony to call Sandeep in each and every show when people dont want to see him. He was on peoples mute mode. I think everybody did better than him.

He was just II because of voting by Rajasthan's people. All marwaris are loaded anyways.

Sandeep Acharya was nothing without Sony Tv.

I wouldnt be surprised if same thing happens for Prashant too.

@ siddh, yeah... which takes us back to the moot question - Who or what makes an Indian Idol. Is it the ability to show singing talent on stage, is it the ability to woo people or is it the ability to garner maximum votes, single or multiple.

on the original thread, can Sony market something or someone which would not give them that revenue?

Or is Sony bound by what they proclaim on national television, arent they obliged to market the winner, thereby fulfilling their promises to him.

Originally posted by: greatmaratha

@ siddh, yeah... which takes us back to the moot question - Who or what makes an Indian Idol. Is it the ability to show singing talent on stage, is it the ability to woo people or is it the ability to garner maximum votes, single or multiple.

on the original thread, can Sony market something or someone which would not give them that revenue?

Or is Sony bound by what they proclaim on national television, arent they obliged to market the winner, thereby fulfilling their promises to him.

If u go on freemental media website original stater of the Idol's concept, is a talent hunt show for just singing. So to me it should be just based on singing. But from last 3 Idols Indian Idol has been chosen on a different criteria. Mostly with the interest of the channel promoting it. Who is the vote bank. How low can we stoop to get more votes. Lets put the best contestant in bottom and make there fans vote like crazy. Is this show even worth watching, wasting so much time?????

Originally posted by: greatmaratha

@ siddh, yeah... which takes us back to the moot question - Who or what makes an Indian Idol. Is it the ability to show singing talent on stage, is it the ability to woo people or is it the ability to garner maximum votes, single or multiple.

on the original thread, can Sony market something or someone which would not give them that revenue?

Or is Sony bound by what they proclaim on national television, arent they obliged to market the winner, thereby fulfilling their promises to him.

I think they are obliged to give him a contract for 1 crore Rupee and an album contract. I am sure they do that well. I heard from a very reliable source that these contracts are very very complex and they(SOny) try to milk the cow as much as they can in its own best interest. Imagine 7 crore votes only in 1 week times 5 RS a vote. How much revenue they get???? These shows are just money making gymic.

Originally posted by: siddh_v

If u go on freemental media website original stater of the Idol's concept, is a talent hunt show for just singing. So to me it should be just based on singing. But from last 3 Idols Indian Idol has been chosen on a different criteria. Mostly with the interest of the channel promoting it. Who is the vote bank. How low can we stoop to get more votes. Lets put the best contestant in bottom and make there fans vote like crazy. Is this show even worth watching, wasting so much time?????

Precisely why I put the Indian Idol concept here. It is at variance with the original and this one seems more on gathering votes than on finding talent.

The channel makes their profit from during the show itself, and they are not overly bothered with what happens to the contestant once the show is over.... The entire gimmick is more towards gathering sms and phone voting, which in turn gives them a share in the revenue. Without gimmicks, people wont vote, there wont be frenzies, therefore the whole approach is to get someone who is likeable, market him and then take him to the top. Then make him loose. If he wins, then people dont have much to talk about... people compliment themselves for making the best guy win... whereas if the best guy or the likeable guy looses, the channel benefits from the negative publicity it gets, the show lingers on in public memory longer, than it would if the better guy won. People remember Rahul Vaidya for being unfortunate victim of Sony's decision to hype a strained laryngitis of Amit Sana. Karunya and Antara are remembered for their tragic ousters than Sandeep. Same would be the fate of Amit and Prashant.

Originally posted by: siddh_v

Imagine 7 crore votes only in 1 week times 5 RS a vote. How much revenue they get???? These shows are just money making gymic.

Their revenue share is approximately 20% of each vote cast by sms. The share is similar for vote by Telephone using the special numbers.

It is nothing but a money making gimmick. Talent be damned, lets make money is the mantra of the channel. It would be poor contestants who are hyped up, who are given dreams of success and stardom, which come crashing down once they move out of the spotlight.

Originally posted by: greatmaratha

Precisely why I put the Indian Idol concept here. It is at variance with the original and this one seems more on gathering votes than on finding talent.

The channel makes their profit from during the show itself, and they are not overly bothered with what happens to the contestant once the show is over.... The entire gimmick is more towards gathering sms and phone voting, which in turn gives them a share in the revenue. Without gimmicks, people wont vote, there wont be frenzies, therefore the whole approach is to get someone who is likeable, market him and then take him to the top. Then make him loose. If he wins, then people dont have much to talk about... people compliment themselves for making the best guy win... whereas if the best guy or the likeable guy looses, the channel benefits from the negative publicity it gets, the show lingers on in public memory longer, than it would if the better guy won. People remember Rahul Vaidya for being unfortunate victim of Sony's decision to hype a strained laryngitis of Amit Sana. Karunya and Antara are remembered for their tragic ousters than Sandeep. Same would be the fate of Amit and Prashant.

Yup totally agree. Why so much home town drama??? Why do the top 2 go to there home towns????? Too much regionalism??? None of that happens in American Idol. I dont think there has ever been a case of Wild Card entry whats up with that???? How come Indian Idols cannot be as successful as American Idols???? I am not talking about the TRP's i am talking about the contestants. Look at Kelly CLarkson, Ruben Studder, Clay Akens etc...........

Compare Kelly Clarkson's success to Abhijeet Sawant its nothing??? Why is that???? Since when did India started brutally murdering music over performance????

Originally posted by: greatmaratha

Their revenue share is approximately 20% of each vote cast by sms. The share is similar for vote by Telephone using the special numbers.

It is nothing but a money making gimmick. Talent be damned, lets make money is the mantra of the channel. It would be poor contestants who are hyped up, who are given dreams of success and stardom, which come crashing down once they move out of the spotlight.

So true but they are going to keep on doing this till us viewers put a stop to this. We should boycott this show. We all know its a money making drama. The whole show is totally scripted . Yes the judges do a good job in choosing mostly accept one mistake which eats talented singers. Why dose Amey need to still struggle to come out with his album. We all think that he was talented. We did some drama which was started by the judges. Which was totally fake, we all made promises that we are not gonna watch sony tv anymore, what happened to that?? I am not pointing fingers because i was the first one there.