In keeping with its philosophy of offering innovative and distinct content, Sony Entertainment Television, in February announced the launch of the third series of this groundbreaking phenomenon, with an even bigger bang!

Indian Idol is a ‘made-for-television phenomenon’ that combines drama and reality with music, humour, thrill and glamour. The last two seasons experienced a collage of emotions, raising levels of viewer frenzy and excitement coupled with the contestants’ tears and joys, heartbreak and jubilation, learning and achievements. With its immense popularity, Indian Idol will continue to showcase exceptional talent on the nation’s biggest platform. The Indian Idol journey in search of ‘Ek Awaaz Jispar Ho Desh Ko Naaz’ promises to become an integral part of the viewers’ lives drawing ardent support and a voting frenzy.

This year, too, Indian Idol will give the people of India the opportunity to chase their dreams and the power to make one talented aspirant ‘Bharat Ki Shaan’. In addition to a recording contract with Sony BMG, the ‘Indian Idol’ will be awarded a contract with Sony Entertainment Television worth Rs 1 crore, thus catapulting him or her into unparalleled stardom, fame and fortune.

The new series will see two new judges; Alisha Chinai, whose album Made in India created history and ushered in new trends in pop music, and Udit Narayan, the extremely talented male playback singer who is known for his silken voice. The third judge is none other than Anu Maliik, one of the most successful and multi-talented music directors of today. His straight talking coupled with his ‘singing shayari comments’ has always kept the contestants at ease, making him one of the most talked about judges of Indian Idol.

For more, keep watching Sony Entertainment Television, Friday & Saturday at 9 p.m.

You can also SMS 'IDOL' to 2525 to get more info on Indian Idol Series 3.

Sony Entertainment Television

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India, India's No. 2 general entertainment television channel, is backed by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI). Its channels include Sony Entertainment Television, MAX, AXN, ANIMAX & SAB.

Launched in October 1995, Sony Entertainment Television is a Hindi General Entertainment Channel, focused at providing quality and innovative entertainment to viewers across India. Over the years, the channel has created significant marquee properties through an impressive line up of programs ranging from the light hearted to the supernatural, exploring various genres complimented by an explosive mix of glamorous events and Bollywood blockbusters.

Known for its innovative concepts and exciting formats, Sony Entertainment Television has been providing strong platforms for over 700 brands to reach over 38 million households in India. In addition, Sony Entertainment Television is also available in US, UK, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Sony Entertainment Television is a part the network of channels distributed by TheOneAlliance - a joint venture between SET India Pvt Ltd and Discovery Communications India. Other channels in TheOneAlliance network include MAX, Discovery, Discovery Travel & Living, SAB TV, MTV, Animal Planet, AXN, ANIMAX, NDTV 24X7, NDTV India, NDTV Profit, NICK and Ten Sports.

‘Idols’

The international ‘Idols’ format was conceived in the United Kingdom by Simon Fuller's company 19TV and leading global Production Company, Fremantle Media. Produced by Thames and 19TV, the format premiered on the UK’s ITV in 2001 as Pop Idol and has been rolled out across 28 countries to date with an overwhelming response leading to national frenzy and a massive ratings success.

In the USA alone, American Idol 4 regularly gained audiences of over 30 million viewers and an incredible 65 million phone votes were recorded for the final episode. The winner of the 4th series of American Idol, Carrie Underwood, stood head and shoulders above more than 1,00,000 contestants as the best undiscovered voice in America. With a new single rocketing up the charts and a debut album on the way, Carrie joins Kelly, Ruben and Fantasia as American Idol-made chart toppers.

In the UK, Pop Idol 2 outperformed the award-winning premiere series with the final episode, breaking voting records with in excess of 10 million votes recorded.

Fremantle Media

FreMantle Media is one of the largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories.

International drama programmes include Germany’s top rated serial drama, Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten (Good Times Bad Times), the UK’s most successful police drama, The Bill, and Australia’s top soap, Neighbours.

Entertainment and factual entertainment successes range from the award winning international format, Idols, broadcast as prime time show, American Idol, on FOX in the US, to the grime busting format, How Clean is Your House? and factual entertainment series starring celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, Jamie’s Kitchen.

FreMantle Media has production offices in over 20 countries worldwide, providing local sales and production support for its international TV brands such as Idols and the world’s longest running game show, The Price is Right. The company’s licensing operation, FreMantle Media Licensing Worldwide, exploits FreMantle Media’s many strong brands across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing.

Fremantle International Distribution, the company’s international distribution division licenses over 19,000 hours of programming to 150 countries worldwide including the outrageous antics of Mr Bean: The Animated Series, moving drama, The Return, starring Julie Walters, landmark documentary, The World at War and the hugely popular special, Britney Spears: In the Zone.

FreMantle Media is the content arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company.

Miditech Pvt. Ltd

Miditech is one of Asia's leading independent production companies that create a wide range of programming. From award winning documentaries to international format game shows, Miditech has earned a reputation for producing programs to meet the exacting standards of international broadcasters with over 400 hours of programming in 2005-2006.

Till about 3 years ago, Miditech focused almost entirely on documentaries and factual programming. It built a formidable reputation in these genres with hit shows like Living on the Edge, India's first environment series in 1996. Wheels, a weekly auto show, The Great Escape, Off the Beaten Path and The Real India Travel Show helped make Miditech the largest producer of travel content in India.

Then Hospital, Commando and R.A.A.A.H. established it firmly as a market leader in the fledgling 'reality' space on Indian television. In 2003 Miditech made an aggressive foray into the entertainment and fiction space with hit shows like Saara Aakash, Roadies, and India Ka Sabse Favourite, an interactive show where the nation voted each week for its favourite Bollywood stars. And there were many more.

When it comes to adapting and localising international formats for the Indian market, Miditech is clearly the leader. Miditech first produced Khelo Number Khelo and Kaarvaan Kismat Ka, two game show formats developed by Zeal Television in the United Kingdom, and followed that up with Indian Idol the local version of the international hit show Pop Idol; Dance Dance, the local version of the Australian show Strictly Dancing; Fame Gurukul, based on Fame Academy; the telenovella Complices Al Rescate, which became a daily kids soap called Hum 2 Hain Na; Play House Disney more recently the long running hit pre-school show Sesame Street as Galli Galli Sim Sim for telecast on the Turner Network and Doordarshan.

Miditech is promoted by the Alva Brothers Niret and Nikhil, who own 75 per cent of the company with the other 25 per cent held by ICICI Venture, the largest private equity and venture capital management company in India with aggregate funds under management in excess of $650 million.

Over the years, Miditech has won many national and international awards. Among them are the 'Green Oscar' or the 'Panda', Asian Television Awards Indian Telly Awards, Indian Academy Awards, The Silver Tree, The Pinnacle, etc.