Zoom to produce ‘desi’ mix of ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Friends’

Music channel MTV has already tried it. Now another special interest channel, Zoom, plans to try its luck with soap operas. But Upen Roop Rai, COO, Zoom, is confident that the soap opera on his channel will not be another ‘saas-bahu’ saga.

Rai says, “The new show will be more along the lines of internationally popular television serials such as ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Friends’.” The locally produced serial will be launched by the end of 2005.

Meanwhile, Zoom continues with its non-fiction shows. The channel is ready to launch the Indian round of the ‘Ford Super Models of the World’. The Indian round will be held on November 26.

Zoom will showcase a special one-hour pre-contest programme, which will cover all the rounds, starting from the audition of the contestants. The winner of the Indian rounds will be sent for the final Ford Super Model contest in New York. The final winner will get to sign a contract with Ford Models worth US$ 250,000.

Talking about the Ford Super Model contest, Rai says, “Zoom has always given its audience insights into the lives of some of the biggest stars of India. This is one more initiative from our side, which not only fulfils the same purpose, but also reveals the various stages through which one becomes a superstar.”

In the next six months, Zoom plans to introduce a whole array of new programming initiatives, including glamour related reality shows and travel shows.

© 2005 agencyfaqs!