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Anil Kapoor to Host Indian Reality Show Bigg Boss OTT on JioCinema Global Bulletin

HOST WITH THE MOST

After playing the host of “Kaun Banega Crorepati,” the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” in “Slumdog Millionaire,” Indian star Anil Kapoor will be the new host of “Bigg Boss OTT,” a Hindi-language adaptation of the “Big Brother” format. The third digital edition of the reality show will commence June 21 on billionaire Mukesh Ambani‘s JioCinema Premium streamer. The first season was hosted by Indian media personality Karan Johar and the second by Bollywood star Salman Khan.

“‘Bigg Boss OTT’ and I are a dream team. We’re both young at heart; people often say – jokingly – that I’m reverse ageing, but Bigg Boss is – seriously- timeless. It feels a bit like going back to school, trying something new and exciting,” Kapoor said. “Unscripted reality has something for everyone – laughter, drama, and surprising twists, and I can’t wait to bring my own flavor to it.”

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There are several Indian broadcast TV versions of “Bigg Boss,” all hosted by popular film stars. Salman Khan has hosted the Hindi-language version on Colors TV from 2012. The Kannada-language version on Colors Kannada, and JioCinema digitally, is hosted by Sudeep; the Tamil-language version, on Star Vijay and Disney+ Hotstar by Kamal Haasan; the Telugu-language version on Star Maa and Disney+ Hotstar by Nagarjuna; the Marathi-language version on Colors Marathi and JioCinema by Riteish Deshmukh; and the Malayalam-language version on Asianet and Disney+ Hotstar by Mohanlal.

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PRIDE STREAMING

Free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service Pluto TV, Your Channels and OUTtv have teamed to launch the PRIDEtv Channel across international markets on Pluto TV  this June, in celebration of Pride Month.  PRIDEtv is a lifestyle television channel for the LGBTQI+ community  featuring award-winning arthouse films, captivating documentaries, popular queer series, short films, reality shows and original TV shows.  The channel is currently available exclusively on Pluto TV in Austria, Germany, Italy, Latin America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. 

Shows available at launch include documentaries  “Beyonce on Top” and  “Cherry Grove Stories”;  series ”Woke,” “#Luimelia,” “Single Out” and  “All You Need”; films “ L-Bomb,” “ Another Gay Movie”  and Eurovision movie “Douze Points”;  and reality show  “Queen of the Oilpatch.”

APPOINTMENTS

Sony Pictures Networks India has promoted head of international business (Americas), Jaideep Janakiram, to head of international business and operations, succeeding Neeraj Arora. Janakiram will report into Rajesh Kaul, chief revenue officer of distribution and international business and business head of sports cluster.

Shalin Patel, head of international business (Europe); Sharon Patel, manager of revenue accounting; Naveen Kunal, senior manager of ad sales; Kavita Paul, lead of international operations; and Moitrani Dhar, lead of research and programming strategy, will report into Janakiram. The teams in the U.S. and Canada will continue reporting into Janakiram.

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U.K. agency Casarotto Ramsay & Associates has hired agent Hannah Linnen, who joins from 42 Management. She will report to head of film and TV Jodi Shields. Prior to 42 Hannah was managing director at John Noel Management and their production company Running Bare Pictures. “I am delighted to have Hannah join our film and television team at Casarotto,” said Shields. “She has a wealth of experience from across different facets of the business and her engaged, informed and intelligent approach will be a great fit with our team.” 

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