Friday, April 07, 2006
The Indian Idol (a money game)
Indian Idol, the famous show based on the concept of American Idol. The show where talent matters less than luck. The show where people move forward based on a sms electorate than the real talent in their voice. And finally, the show where a good voice crowns the candidate an Indian Idol.
The sms-thing-to-take-part-in-competitions dates back to Kaun Banega Crorepati - Dvitiya (that's as back as my memory goes). Back then, I had received an email forward which explained how the program is raking in moolah by way of sms votes. I think Indian Idol too started with the same concept.
The Indian Idol (II) show, which I happened to watch confirmed 14lac sms votes. Each sms costing Rs3. That makes it Rs42 lac only through sms for one show! Plus the advertisement rates at prime time would add up to the show's revenue. Now that the show is in final stages, Indian Idol (II) show with final 3 contestants gathered more than 1crore sms votes!
Back in the old day, the way a channel received its revenue was through cable operators. Add to it some subscribers who installed Direct To Home (DTH) service. Now, the sms voting game is in vogue. Television channels have an alternate source of income, directly from the viewer, bypassing the cable operator. Yes, there is a telecom operator inbetween them. However, the stakes are much high. India, with so many of its people sending sms votes to make their candidate win. And in return, I wonder what the people get out of it! They would end up making someone's life. The only point is, does he deserve? Many deserving candidates were thrown out of the show and couldn't compete because of a lower sms score to their name.
But Sonu Nigam, one of the judges on the show rightly said that someone might become an Indian Idol this way. However, only his talent will tell whether he survives later in the long run... May the best prevail!
Cheers,
Manish.
The sms-thing-to-take-part-in-competitions dates back to Kaun Banega Crorepati - Dvitiya (that's as back as my memory goes). Back then, I had received an email forward which explained how the program is raking in moolah by way of sms votes. I think Indian Idol too started with the same concept.
The Indian Idol (II) show, which I happened to watch confirmed 14lac sms votes. Each sms costing Rs3. That makes it Rs42 lac only through sms for one show! Plus the advertisement rates at prime time would add up to the show's revenue. Now that the show is in final stages, Indian Idol (II) show with final 3 contestants gathered more than 1crore sms votes!
Back in the old day, the way a channel received its revenue was through cable operators. Add to it some subscribers who installed Direct To Home (DTH) service. Now, the sms voting game is in vogue. Television channels have an alternate source of income, directly from the viewer, bypassing the cable operator. Yes, there is a telecom operator inbetween them. However, the stakes are much high. India, with so many of its people sending sms votes to make their candidate win. And in return, I wonder what the people get out of it! They would end up making someone's life. The only point is, does he deserve? Many deserving candidates were thrown out of the show and couldn't compete because of a lower sms score to their name.
But Sonu Nigam, one of the judges on the show rightly said that someone might become an Indian Idol this way. However, only his talent will tell whether he survives later in the long run... May the best prevail!
Cheers,
Manish.
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"Indian Idol" is a misnomer. In my opinion, many other personalities are betters idols than these singers. Take for example the sportsmen, the freedom fighters, artists, or even politicians for that matter!
These singers are not Idols but helpless DOLLs in the hands of crazy viewers who have no better options to kill their extra time.
Add to that the background/backstage drama shown on such programs, the rudeness of the judges, the over-done sentiments broadcast live, quite frankly all such shows suck bigtime.
These singers are not Idols but helpless DOLLs in the hands of crazy viewers who have no better options to kill their extra time.
Add to that the background/backstage drama shown on such programs, the rudeness of the judges, the over-done sentiments broadcast live, quite frankly all such shows suck bigtime.
"Idol" certainly is a misnomer. The name, since it is catchy, works though.
Reality TV sells these days. So programs like these keep coming. Although, I agree that it has less substance.
Manish.
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Reality TV sells these days. So programs like these keep coming. Although, I agree that it has less substance.
Manish.
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