Big Brother to sever ties with Sony Entertainment
MUMBAI: The Rahul Roy, Rakhi Sawant and Carol Gracias-starrer Big Boss on Sony Entertainment Television, which managed to become a talking point for the Hindi speaking audiences last year, is now on the verge of a legal storm.
Format owner Endemol International, which owns the internationally-renowned format Big Brother, which was adapted for the Indian audiences as Big Boss, has decided to sever ties with Sony.
Sony had a volume output deal with Endemol on the back of which Endemol decided to set shop in India. The deal with Endemol India and Sony was two pronged: a volume agreement (which is estimated to be close to Rs 15-25 crore per format for a single season), that came to a close in 2006 coupled with format agreements, such as Dance Dance, Fear Factor, Fame Gurukul and Big Boss.
“In lieu of the volume deal struck with Sony, Endemol had assured Sony of the rights to a season two and three of Big Brother (Big Boss in India) and a right of first refusal on various other format shows,” said Albert Almeida, EVP & business head, Sony Entertainment Television.
However, it is learnt that Endemol India, in a letter sent to Sony, stated that it was under instruction from its headquarters not to produce a second series of Big Boss for Sony due to no official written confirmation.
Mr Almeida said, “Yes, while we did receive such a letter, the discussions for the second series was well underway with Endemol India and creative decisions like casting options of splitting the house with six celebrities and six ordinary people, location of the Big Brother House and anchor options were all being discussed. Further, all other deal terms for production of second series were already buttoned up, with the exception of a launch date.”
Industry sources say that Endemol India received no commitment on the renewal of the volume deal which is estimated to be Rs 250 crore across multiple years. For a production like Big Boss, the estimated cost for the broadcaster would be about Rs 25 crore.
Sony could not look at a renewal, according to insiders, due to the heavy monetary commitment that needed to be made. It is now understood that Endemol India is using its driver format (Big Brother aka Big Boss in India) to clinch another volume deal with another broadcaster. The names that are doing the rounds are Viacom as well as NDTV Imagine which launched its channel earlier this month.
MUMBAI: The Rahul Roy, Rakhi Sawant and Carol Gracias-starrer Big Boss on Sony Entertainment Television, which managed to become a talking point for the Hindi speaking audiences last year, is now on the verge of a legal storm.
Format owner Endemol International, which owns the internationally-renowned format Big Brother, which was adapted for the Indian audiences as Big Boss, has decided to sever ties with Sony.
Sony had a volume output deal with Endemol on the back of which Endemol decided to set shop in India. The deal with Endemol India and Sony was two pronged: a volume agreement (which is estimated to be close to Rs 15-25 crore per format for a single season), that came to a close in 2006 coupled with format agreements, such as Dance Dance, Fear Factor, Fame Gurukul and Big Boss.
“In lieu of the volume deal struck with Sony, Endemol had assured Sony of the rights to a season two and three of Big Brother (Big Boss in India) and a right of first refusal on various other format shows,” said Albert Almeida, EVP & business head, Sony Entertainment Television.
However, it is learnt that Endemol India, in a letter sent to Sony, stated that it was under instruction from its headquarters not to produce a second series of Big Boss for Sony due to no official written confirmation.
Mr Almeida said, “Yes, while we did receive such a letter, the discussions for the second series was well underway with Endemol India and creative decisions like casting options of splitting the house with six celebrities and six ordinary people, location of the Big Brother House and anchor options were all being discussed. Further, all other deal terms for production of second series were already buttoned up, with the exception of a launch date.”
Industry sources say that Endemol India received no commitment on the renewal of the volume deal which is estimated to be Rs 250 crore across multiple years. For a production like Big Boss, the estimated cost for the broadcaster would be about Rs 25 crore.
Sony could not look at a renewal, according to insiders, due to the heavy monetary commitment that needed to be made. It is now understood that Endemol India is using its driver format (Big Brother aka Big Boss in India) to clinch another volume deal with another broadcaster. The names that are doing the rounds are Viacom as well as NDTV Imagine which launched its channel earlier this month.
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