The Hindu Business Line : Star hopes to strengthen weekends with KBC 2

IF Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) breathed new life into Star Plus driving it to the top slot of general Hindi entertainment channel, KBC 2 is being launched to strengthen its weekends.

KBC returns to the small screen with mega star Amitabh Bachchan as its host but with a prize money of Rs 2 crore as opposed to Rs 1 crore offered in the first version.

KBC 2 will be aired during the weekends - Friday through Sunday.

Star Plus has already signed on Airtel and Nokia as sponsors for the show, slated for launch on August 6.

"We have room for six more brands," Mr Ajay Vidyasagar, Senior Vice-President - Marketing and Communication, Star India Pvt Ltd.

However, KBC 2 will have limited number of episodes - 85 episodes commencing from August through February 2006. The advertising campaign is expected to kick off from Monday, he said.

"We have made accessibility to the show much easier this time with phones, SMS and Internet. Last time, for every one call, 20 callers were unable to get through. We received a total of 9 crore calls and as per our estimates, 180 crore calls did not get through," Mr Vidyasagar said. The phone lines will open on June 6. The questions would also be aired on Star Plus daily.

Amitabh Bachchan, who hosted the show to a stupendous success, believes his foray into television is the best mistakes of his life.

"I never realised the power of television until I did KBC," he was quoted as saying in a presentation made by Star Plus to the media.

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