By Javed Farooqui
Copyright indiatimes
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Mumbai: With fatigue setting in for international reality shows, broadcasters are leaning on home-grown non-fiction formats to manage costs, deepen audience engagement and build long-term value through intellectual property (IP) ownership. Imported formats such as Bigg Boss, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) and MasterChef have long anchored non-fiction schedules but carry heavy licensing fees and limited scope for localisation since they come with a set of guidelines. By investing in original formats, networks gain flexibility to adapt shows across regional markets while retaining monetisable IP.Zee Entertainment, which pioneered with SaReGaMaPa and Dance India Dance, is expanding its slate with Chhoriyan Chali Gaon and reviving Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai. JioStar, which operates Star Plus and Colors, is banking on Pati Patni Aur Panga as a mass-appeal property after the success of Laughter Chefs, a celebrity cooking competition. Sony Pictures Networks India, while still dependent on KBC and Shark Tank India, is nurturing in-house properties like Super Dancer to reduce reliance on external IP.Regional players are also driving experimentation. Sun TV Network and Eenadu Television are testing new music, dance and cooking genres, while Warner Bros Discovery is adapting its global playbook through shows such as Star vs Food: Survival and Reality Ranis of the Jungle.Streaming platforms, in contrast, continue to see international franchises as safer bets. Netflix is an exception, attempting localisation at scale through The Great Indian Kapil Show, targeted at audiences in tier-2 and tier-3 markets.Live EventsExperts say non-fiction formats attract a wider demographic base than fiction and often turn into family appointment viewing. They are also repeatable across languages and platforms. More importantly, IP ownership enhances negotiating power with advertisers and unlocks digital monetisation through clips, spin-offs and second-screen experiences. “Non-fiction delivers higher revenues through advertiser interest and quick turnarounds, but fatigue with long-running international formats is pushing networks toward home-grown shows. Originals demand greater investment yet offer adaptability across languages, making them more sustainable in the long run,” said Keerat Grewal, head, business development (streaming, TV and brands), Ormax Media.Alok Jain, head of cluster, entertainment at JioStar, said home-grown IPs are long-term assets because they help the network unleash creativity, stay closer to audience insights and build properties that drive leadership today while creating lasting value for the future.”Building our own IPs allows us to go a step further-to create formats born in India, rooted in our cultural context and capable of travelling back to the world,” he added.Zee Entertainment chief content officer Raghavendra Hunsur said, “Our investment in weekend non-fiction across the regional network is significant. On Zee TV, we have already invested in weekday non-fiction and are planning some properties for weekends as well.”Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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Read More News onzee entertainmentIntellectual property in broadcastingZee Entertainment original formatsReality shows in IndiaStreaming platforms and localisationRegional TV network investmentSuccess of Indian reality shows
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onzee entertainmentIntellectual property in broadcastingZee Entertainment original formatsReality shows in IndiaStreaming platforms and localisationRegional TV network investmentSuccess of Indian reality shows(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
