Television channels get set for the New Year

If there is one evening when most people are in the mood to party, it is the evening of December 31. Indeed, the currents are so strong, even average couch potatoes find themselves caught in the line of fire. For the ones compelled to stay home though, there is no dearth of year-end entertainment to keep their spirits alive. Television channels, that more often than not double up as a source of family entertainment, are not letting down their viewers this year either.

Lead channels STAR, Sony and ZEE have decided to usher in the New Year in their own inimitable style. STAR, with its line-up of prime-time shows, has decided to stick to its lot, albeit with a mild difference. The quirky Parekh family of sitcom Khichdi, telecast at 8.00 pm on Tuesdays, leaves for a New Year party, only to get lost, with members surfacing successfully from 8.30 pm to 12.00 pm on rival shows Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Sanjivani, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahin To Hoga and finally Kahin Kissi Roz, where they are all united.

The continuing storyline has been treated in such a manner, point executives from the channel, so as to not disrupt the flow of rival shows. In other words, brevity will mark the entry and exit of the Parekh family with their appearance restricted to "two or three scenes" in each episode of every show.

If STAR has decided to make do with its existing lot of prime-time shows, ZEE and Sony have special programmes lined up for December 31. Sony has Bollywood concert, Non-Stop Hungama, scheduled at 10.00 pm, while ZEE has Jalwaa Unlimited, a potpourri of music, comedy and numerology dished out by comedian-anchor Sajid Khan, singer Shaan and celebrity numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani, who will predict the future of various stars.

ZEE's party will continue into the New Year with a special episode of Antakshari on January 1, 2004, followed by a special on the best singers of 2003, who appeared on the talent show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

For CHannel [V] and MTV, December 31 is a time to put their best foot forward with the traditional rivals attempting to outdo each other with the telecast of the best music of the year. For [V], the party will stretch over two days, beginning at the stroke of midnight on December 31, while MTV has made a head start with a Top 100 countdown that began on December 22.

Movie channels STAR Movies and ZEE MGM have lined up two blockbuster films at 9.00 pm prime time on New Year's Eve with the George Lucas-directed Star Wars II - Attack of the Clones to premiere on the former and the Roberto Benini-starrer Life is Beautiful, to be telecast by the latter. HBO has reruns of Tango & Cash, Fast & the Furious, Enter the Dragon and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind on the evening of December 31.

In the Hindi movie space, ZEE Cinema has lined-up the Vidhu Vinod Chopra-directed and Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Manisha Koirala-starrer 1942 - A Love Story at 9.00 pm prime time, while sister channel ZEE English will begin celebrations at 1.00 pm on December 31 with a back-to-back special of six events telecast over the year including the World Music Awards, Miss Universe 2003, Miss USA 2003, Miss Teen USA 2003, Emmies 2003 and the SAG Awards.

Movies and events channel MAX has lined up the Bobby Deol, Karishma Kapoor-starrer Hum To Mohabbat Karega at 9.00 pm prime time, while rivals STAR Gold and STAR World intend getting into the mood a little before time on December 31 with the movie of the evening, Hera Pheri, to be telecast at 8.00 pm on STAR Gold and British pop singer Cher in concert at the same time on STAR World.

Action-adventure channel AXN is banking on a movie marathon in the New Year, which, will be flagged off by a special telecast of the late-night show Wild On, on December 31. It will begin at 11.00 pm, stretching on till 7.00 am the next day, to be followed by an 84-hour action movie special at 8.00 am.

Billed as the AXN New Year Special, the movie marathon will stretch over four days with cult classics such as Jaws, Mission Impossible, Godzilla and Red Sonja lined up with animation movies such as Antz and war flicks such as NightHawks, among others.

Year-end fever has gripped news channels as well with most dishing out special programmes in the run-up to the New Year. Aaj Tak has a thematically titled Char Sau BC special on the scandals, wars, issues and problems that rocked the country and the states as well as the world in general.

STAR News has been capturing significant moments during the year in the show Yeh Silsile Huey from December 25, while CNBC-TV 18 has a Rewind 2003 on air since December 26.

NDTV 24X7 and NDTV India have a recap of events on December 31, beginning with Khel 2003 at 6.30 pm on NDTV India, followed by Bazaar 2003 at 7.30 pm, Jalak 2003 at 8.00 pm, Aisa Bhi Hota Hai at 9.30 pm, a special on late night show Raat Bakhi at 12.00 am and satirical show Gustaki Maaf (using puppets) at 12.30 am.

NDTV 24X7 has Replay 2003 at 7.30 pm on December 31, followed by the Year of the Bull at 8.30 pm, Great Indian Tamasha, which, like its Hindi counterpart Gustaki Maaf, is a satirical show using puppets, at 9.30 pm, followed by That's the Year 2003 at 10.00 pm, That's Entertainment at 11.00 pm and Best of Night Out at 11.30 pm. © 2003 agencyfaqs!