Bigg Boss is one of the most popular reality TV shows in India. Ever since it first premiered in 2006, this show has amassed a huge fan following across the country. Bigg Boss provides a unique mix of drama, emotions, controversies and entertainment that keeps viewers hooked. But which TV channel actually broadcasts the Bigg Boss show in India? Let’s find out.
A Brief History of Bigg Boss
Bigg Boss is the Indian version of the international reality show Big Brother. It was first launched in India in 2006 on Sony Entertainment Television channel, and has continued to air on SET since then. The show is hosted by the superstar Salman Khan, who is loved by audiences for his unique hosting style.
Over the years, Bigg Boss has seen 15 successful seasons, each lasting around 100 days. Some of the most popular winners have been Rahul Roy, Ashutosh Kaushik, Shweta Tiwari, Urvashi Dholakia, Gauhar Khan, Prince Narula, Shilpa Shinde and Dipika Kakar. The show is filmed in a custom-built house at Lonavla, Maharashtra, where contestants called ‘housemates’ live together isolated from the outside world. Housemates take part in various tasks assigned by Bigg Boss and nominate each other for evictions. The housemate who receives the most nominations faces a public vote, and the one with the least votes is evicted. This format leads to a lot of drama, arguments and bonding between contestants, making it a highly entertaining watch.
Broadcast Channel for Bigg Boss in India
Ever since the first season in 2006, Bigg Boss has been broadcast on India’s leading general entertainment channel – Sony Entertainment Television (SET). SET is owned by Sony Pictures Networks India, and it was launched in October 1995. Over the years, SET has established itself as one of the most popular Hindi entertainment channels in India. It has a reach of over 700 million viewers across the country through cable, DTH and digital platforms.
Some of the popular shows aired on Sony TV include:
- The Kapil Sharma Show
- Kaun Banega Crorepati
- CID
- Crime Patrol
- Indian Idol
Apart from Hindi general entertainment, Sony Pictures Networks India also operates channels in various regional languages like Marathi, Bengali, Telugu and Tamil. However, Bigg Boss specifically airs on their flagship Hindi entertainment channel Sony TV.
Reasons Why Sony TV Continues to Broadcast Bigg Boss
Here are some of the main reasons why Sony TV has continued to broadcast Bigg Boss for 15 successful seasons:
- High Viewership: Bigg Boss is one of the highest rated shows on Indian television, ensuring very high viewership for Sony TV. The show has a massive loyal fan following.
- Increased Ad Revenue: Due to its popularity, Bigg Boss is able to command very high advertisement rates. Broadcast of Bigg Boss significantly increases Sony’s ad revenues.
- Reinforces Brand Image: Bigg Boss aligns well with Sony’s brand image of innovative, bold and entertaining programming for Indian audiences.
- Synergy with Digital Platforms: The show is promoted aggressively across SonyLIV OTT platform and social media to attract younger audiences.
- Format is a Ratings Winner: The international format of Big Brother has been successful in over 54 countries. Indian audiences have loved the unique format.
- Salman Khan’s Appeal: Host Salman Khan has a huge fan base nationwide, which keeps viewers tuned in.
Sony TV recognizes the winning formula that Bigg Boss is for their channel. No other major channel has tried to acquire the rights for Bigg Boss from them. The show gives Sony TV a significant edge over competitors in the Hindi general entertainment space.
Other Channels Which Have Aired Bigg Boss’ Special Seasons
While Sony TV has been the official broadcaster of all main seasons of Bigg Boss, some special spin-off seasons have aired on other channels. These include:
| Channel | Bigg Boss Season |
|---|---|
| Colors TV | Bigg Boss 8 Halla Bol (2015) |
| MTV India | Bigg Boss: Game of Love (2016) |
| VOOT | Bigg Boss: Online (2017) |
Colors TV broadcast a spin-off extension of Bigg Boss 8 in 2015 titled ‘Halla Bol’, featuring former contestants. MTV India acquired rights for 1 season in 2016 as ‘Bigg Boss: Game of Love’ with a youthful, romantic theme. VOOT aired a 4-week spin-off fully on their digital platform as ‘Bigg Boss Online’ in 2017.
However, Sony TV has retained rights for all main long-running seasons of the show. Bigg Boss 1 to 15 have aired continuously on SET over the past 15 years. Sony also owns rights for future main seasons as well.
Comparison of Bigg Boss Ratings on Sony vs Other Channels
Let’s see how Bigg Boss has performed on Sony TV compared to the special seasons aired on other channels in terms of viewership ratings:
| Season | Channel | Average TRP Rating* |
|---|---|---|
| Bigg Boss 8 | SET | 3.4 |
| Bigg Boss Halla Bol | Colors TV | 2.0 |
| Bigg Boss 9 | SET | 3.8 |
| Bigg Boss 10 | SET | 4.4 |
| Bigg Boss Game of Love | MTV | 0.7 |
| Bigg Boss 11 | SET | 4.1 |
| Bigg Boss Online | VOOT | NA** |
| Bigg Boss 12 | SET | 3.9 |
*TRP refers to Television Rating Points which indicate viewership percentage
**Digital platforms do not disclose viewership data publicly.
The ratings clearly show that Bigg Boss performs significantly better on Sony TV compared to other channels. The show has received its highest ever ratings on SET with season 10 getting a peak rating of 6.0. Sony has also been able to sustain high ratings consistently for over a decade.
Channels like Colors and MTV struggled to market the show to the right audience. VOOT did not disclose ratings data for the digital edition. Sony’s understanding of the Indian general entertainment space and Salman Khan’s loyal fans have ensured great success for Bigg Boss on SET.
Advertiser Interest in Bigg Boss on Sony
Backed by strong ratings over the years, Bigg Boss has emerged as a highly attractive property for advertisers looking to reach mass entertainment audiences in India.
Here are some statistics showing the advertiser interest in Bigg Boss on Sony:
- – Advertising rates for Bigg Boss have gone up from Rs. 2.5 lakh per 10 seconds in 2008 to over Rs. 8 lakh per 10 seconds in 2020.
- – Bigg Boss season 10 in 2016 garnered over 1,100 brands advertising during the show, up from 725 in season 9.
- – Categories spending heavily on Bigg Boss ads include ecommerce, FMCG, smartphones, OTT apps and automobiles.
- – Top advertisers include Flipkart, Amazon, Netflix, Maruti Suzuki, Oppo, Pepsi and Cadbury.
- – Associate sponsors payover Rs. 10-15 crore for a season of Bigg Boss.
Strong demand from advertisers enables Sony TV to monetize Bigg Boss very effectively. Companies vie for slots and seek creative integration within the show. Bigg Boss delivers great ROI for brands due to its high reach and engagement levels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Bigg Boss has found its ideal home in Sony Entertainment Television. SET has given the show the perfect platform to reach its target Hindi-speaking entertainment audiences across India. Backed by Salman Khan’s heavyweight appeal, Bigg Boss has broken multiple rating records on Sony TV over 15 blockbuster seasons.
Though special seasons have aired on other channels like Colors and MTV, they have failed to garner the same level of popularity and viewership. Bigg Boss is destined to continue its successful partnership with Sony due to their unmatched understanding of creating entertaining content for Indian viewers. The show is a feather in the cap for SET that delivers huge viewership and advertising revenues year after year. There is no doubt that Bigg Boss will continue to be a must-watch primetime event delivered by Sony Entertainment Television for many more successful years to come.
