Sign up for afaqs! Newsletters
MTV unleashes Pulsar Mania in a reality show for biking enthusiasts
The show will be an eight part reality series to pick a winner from 10 enthusiastic bikers
MTV is at it again – exploring and experimenting with various formats to entertain and engage its audience – the youth. With a reality show on stunt biking, the channel is getting ready to unleash the thrill of riding a Bajaj Pulsar.
The eight part reality show is called Pulsar MTV Stunt Mania. Ten biking enthusiasts will be picked up for the on-screen contest after various rounds of auditions in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune and Chandigarh.
Speaking to afaqs!, Ashish Patil, general manager and senior vice-president, creative and content, MTV, falls short of calling it another advertiser funded programme (AFP). He says, “For us, an AFP would be an arrangement where the advertiser buys the slots and dictates the content for the same. However, MTV has always strived to devise appealing and engaging content for its TG (target group) and thereafter, rope in fitting brands and partners for the property.”
Patil suggests that going by the generic definition of an AFP, earlier MTV shows such as Roadies, Splitsvilla and What's Up qualify as AFPs.
MTV has roped in Bollywood stunt guru, Alan Amin, to act as mentor and guide for the participants of the reality show. Amin is credited with crafting amazing stunts for movies such as Dhoom, Dhoom 2 and Dus.
Individuals (both men and women) above 18 years of age with a license to drive can try their luck at becoming the celebrated stunt biker of the country. During auditions, the interested contestants will get to perform stunts such as basic wheelie, stoppie, tank, flamingo, 12 o’clock wheelie, burnout, frogger and rolling stoppie. These stunt acts will also double up as tasks on the show. Each week, the rider with the least scores will get eliminated from the show.
The reality series will provide handy tips on bike maintenance and rider safety. Experts and engineers from Bajaj Auto will explain and exhibit how to derive maximum benefits from the machine and the human body while enjoying safe biking.
Listing the gratifications for the contestants and the winner of the reality series, Patil states, “The biker enthusiast gets to learn and perform biking stunts under professional supervision and expertise. He or she gets to be on TV. The winner gets a customised one-of-its-kind Pulsar – complete with special accessories. The winner also gets to walk away with a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh.”
As of now, MTV has decided to air half an hour episodes as part of the 8 part reality series. The show will occupy a primetime slot, which has not been finalised as yet. With the auditions in full swing, Pulsar MTV Stunt Mania will enter viewers' boardrooms in early July.