Satyamev Jayate TV show headed to China

Satyamev Jayate, an issue-based television show hosted by Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, is headed to China after Star India sold the rights of the popular show to a production company there.

"When we did the first season of Satyamev Jayate, we got inquiries from many parts of Asia and some parts in Africa. But the country from where we saw the maximum interest was China and we have just sold the rights of the show to a production company in China," Star India CEO Uday Shankar told a session organised by the Paley Media Centre here Friday.

While no further details were given about how the show would be aired in China, Shankar later told PTI that the rights were sold under syndication where a party in China was interested in the show and took its rights.

He also said that the show would not have happened if it was not for the support of 21st Century Fox co-COO James Murdoch, who was present at the Paley Centre event.

Shankar said he was told by his company's executive that he was "going totally out of line" when he discussed the concept of Satyamev Jayate, a talk show first aired in 2012 and conceptualised to shine light on sensitive social issues.

Shankar spoke with Murdoch and asked if he had his approval to go ahead and "risk this whole investment."

"He (Murdoch) said 'we would live'," Shankar said as the audience broke into laughter.

He said the network is working on a new season of Satyamev Jayate that will be aired soon.

"The show requires immense amount of research. We are working on that. Hopefully there will be a new season soon," he said.

Murdoch in his address said Star's path in India has not always been easy and the market is still very complicated.

He, however, said that Satyamev Jayate has become a "phenomenon" in India and "galvanised" the nation by shining a light of some of India's most sensitive social issues and taboos like female foeticide, inter-caste marriage, child sex abuse and voting corruption.

Shankar is the first CEO from the Indian media and entertainment industry to address the prestigious media council.