"The show will involve huge prize money and be hosted by a big celebrity. We are in advanced negotiations with a foreign player to get licensee rights for telecasting the game show in the country. But we will be able to launch only after three months," Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network vice chairman and managing director Markand Adhikari told eFE.

The channel will also introduce another big property prime-time daily show in the next fiscal. "We are clearly emerging as a fourth channel in the general entertainment category, after Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony. If we get a big driver programme like Star Plus did with Kaun Banega Crorepati, we can catapult into the big three league. Which is why we are planning to launch two big properties," said Mr Adhikari.

SABe TV is shifting its game show Jab Khelo Sab Khelo from the afternoon into the prime time band. It will air on Saturdays and Sundays in the new time band from February 3, at the 7-8 pm slot. The set has been given a new look and the prize money has been increased. If a participant completes a housefull, he or she gets Rs 1 lakh. The prize money increases to Rs 1.25 crore if the same person is able to complete the second housefull within 12 months. "We wanted to expand the audience base from women to families.

Besides, we saw the need to get more into the SEC B,C,D categories. Ratings showed that the show was preferred by the upper class women. We were getting a TRP of more than 1 among women in SEC A," said Mr Adhikari.

The cost per show in terms of prize money would go up from around Rs 2-2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, Mr Markand said.

The channel has six programmes showing individual TRPs of more than 1 in the 15 plus SEC A, B and C target group for the week ended January, 2001 in all the 14 cities (excluding South), according to TAM report. "This is ahead of SetMax, DD Metro, B4U General Entertainment and Sahara. Just nine months after launch, we have emerged as the fourth general entertainment channel," said Mr Adhikari.

But couldn't the equations change? "We see a pattern that is happening with our programming. Alif Laila, Office Office and Brahma Vishnu Mahesh are showing a consistency in ratings. It is necessary for a channel to emerge with programmes which perform consistently well. Some of the programmes on our channel are meeting this requirement, unlike B4U General Entertainment or Sahara," said Mr Adhikari.

SABe TV is planning to dilute 30 per cent stake to a foreign strategic partner. "The board is yet to approve of such a move. But if approved, we will look for an international player who will provide us with expertise and help us expand base in international arena," said Mr Adhikari.