Sony, Endemol lock horns over Big Boss

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is headed for a faceoff with production house Endemol India, which has produced such games and reality shows like Deal or No Deal, Fame Gurukul, Fear Factor and Big Boss for the channel.

According to sources at SET, Endemol is offering the second season of reality show Big Boss to another general entertainment channel, while SET has the first right of refusal.

A SET spokesperson declined to comment. Deepak Dhar, managing director of Endemol India, could not be reached for comment.

Big Boss "� the Indian version of the controversial British TV show Big Brother "� was a popular programme in 2006.

In the last few years, general entertainment channels like SET have started depending heavily on reality shows like Big Boss to boost viewership. With media houses launching more entertainment channels, the demand for shows like Big Boss is increasing.

Sources said that the two parties had signed a deal in 2006, under which Endemol had assured SET of the rights to the second and third seasons of Big Boss, and a right of first refusal on various other format shows. But now, they said, Endemol is talking to one of the new channels for future editions of the show.

SET India and Endemol International first came together in 2005, when SET licensed the show Operation Trimpho and introduced the music talent hunt programme Fame Gurukul.

Since then, Endemol has produced several non-fiction shows for the channel. One of these, the format programme Champion Chaalbaaz No. 1 (an Indian version of the international show Prankstar), is currently showing on SET, which plans to launch another show, Full Masti, that is in the development stage.