STAR Plus seals five-year contract for ‘KBC’

STAR Plus and Celador have signed a five-year multi-million-dollar renewal deal for the Indian version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’

‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) as the show is known in India began in 2000 and made broadcaster STAR Plus India’s most watched channel and it hasn’t looked back since.

The agreement, covering both the format and programme licence, makes it the longest continuing licence ever granted for the show globally.

“‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ is a show that is very close to our hearts as it laid the foundation for STAR Plus’s unprecedented success over the last six years,” said Sameer Nair, CEO of STAR Entertainment India.

The terms of the deal will also allow STAR to dub the show from the original Hindi into Tamil for its Vijay Channel, as well as for the finished Hindi programmes to be broadcast in a further six territories, including Hong Kong, the Middle East, Singapore, Pakistan, the UK, and the US, on STAR Plus’s international channels.

Celador International chairman Paul Smith, who sealed the deal for Celador with chief operating officer Steve Askew, said: “STAR has proudly taken care of our most valuable of assets in one of the most rapidly developing territories in the world. Their commitment is testament to the fact that ‘Millionaire’ has an unprecedented and enduring appeal for millions of viewers all over the world, and will continue to do so long into the future.”

It is not yet known whether Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan will continue to front the show. There are rumours he could defect to rivals Sony TV or ZEE TV for a new gameshow. There is also speculation that Bachchan junior Abhishek Bachchan could be in the frame to takeover the hot seat on the show.