Earshot — A new high

Extended viewing

WITH most TV channels in a state of flux, IN Mumbai has decided to increase viewing time. Starting June 1 they will commence transmission for 22 hours from 7.30 am to 5 am next morning, without a break. From June 2, CVO, the movie channel, will also increase viewing time. It will start beaming in Calcutta, thereby extending its reach to 12 cities.

But, increased viewership time has in no way changed the programme content of In Mumbaiit’s still game shows, quiz shows and film-based shows. Talent wanted Speaking of Cinevista, the successful production house, seems set to enter a new phase. This week, it’s first music show, Hajmola Awaaz ki Duniya begins on DD1, Wednseday onwards. Yes, it’s another music talent serial, something along the lines of Sa Re Ga and Meri Awaz Suno. Seems, Sunil Mehta and partner-cum brother-in-law, Prem Kishen are branching out from their metier: now, instead of producing only successful serials such as Junoon and Ghutan, they’re thinking of going into sitcoms, news and current affairs as well. Maybe they’ve got finally suffocated by their obsession with emotional dramas.

Where have all the ads gone?

ZEE TV is learning at its own expense that mythological serials just don’t pull in the sponsors. Both Chanakya and Ek Aur Mahabharat are doing abysmally. According to some, the situation is so bad that staffers are being retrenched to cut costs. No one seems to be talking about the production costs of these serials. And don’t the programmers know that what does well for DD may not necessarily work on a satellite channel? Party time! Magic Box Productions, the makers of Surf Wheel of Fortune and Bol Bindaas Bol, celebrated 700 hours of programming at a bash held on the lawns outside their Mumbai office on Friday night. Spotted in corners were Ajit Vachani of Hasratein fame, Firdaus Dadi, Rohini Hattangady and the host of Bol Bindaas Bol, Amole Gupte. Halfway through the party, news reached that the talk show had been declared the winner of the RAPA awards. Unfortunately, the speeches and congratulations were cut short by a faulty mike system. Gupte’s voice got blocked out and Kapoor’s came across loud and clear. Finally, the speeches were dropped and everyone went back to dancing. No takersThe 22nd RAPA (Radio and Television Advertising Practitioners Awards) turned out to be a bit of a damp squib as the guest of honour, Anupam Kher pointed out. Addressing the audience, Anupam said, "It is sad that for such a big function there is hardly any turnout. RAPA, besides giving awards for advertising, should also advertise itself." Some of the bigger awards were: Best Hindi script for a Hindi TV programme to Karan Razdan for Tehkikaat who was there with a pretty young thing he takes everywhere nowadays, Bol Bindaas Bol for best talk show (Hindi) and best English commercial went to Nexus Equity for Ericsson.

All work, no pay

Priya Tendulkar seems to have run out of excuses. She still has not paid her audience co-ordinator, Harsha Vyas a sum of Rs 18,000 for the Priya Tendulkar Talk Show. First, the reason given was that STAR Plus has not paid Tendulkar. Now, according to Vyas, she is being made to run from pillar to post. Tendulkar never seems to be home, not matter what time of the day Vyas calls her.

Vyas was even told that there is no outstanding payment left. When she read out the records, it appears that Tendulkar’s manager, Ashutosh Sharma, told her that she will be paid "jab unki marji hogi tab." Wonder when that will happen.