TV draws battlelines for Antakshri

New Delhi: With television channels vying with each other for top slots it seems the ‘me first’ battle just seems to be getting bigger.

Earlier this year, Star One and Sony vied with each other for launching their respective takes on a celebrity-based dance show - Sony launching Jhalak Dikhla Ja, while Star One responding by launching the second edition of its popular show Nach Baliye.

Then, one saw a race between Zee and Star to launch musical talent shows featuring children.

After Zee launched L'il Champs in which tiny tots competed with one another for the title, Star responded with a similar show Rin Tera Mera Superstar.

Now, the race is on between the two channels for launching a show modeled on the highly popular Antakshri, the longest running musical show on Indian television.

While Star One, fresh from the success of Nach Baliye 2 and the euphoria generated by the announcement of the nation's heart-throb Shah Rukh Khan as the host of its third edition of the Kaun Banega Crorepati, has announced the launch of Antakshri - The Challenge, Zee TV has said Antakshri will make a return in the New Year.

While Antakshri - The Challenge, to be launched in February this year, will be hosted by Anu Kapoor who lent the original show a legendary status with his irrepressible charm, Zee's 'retake' on Antakshri will be hosted by Sunil Pal, who has been a part of STAR One's Great Laughter Challenge with Himani Kapoor (one of the finalists in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge 2005) as his co-host.

Sources in Star One say Antakshri - The Challenge will have a reality aspect to it with inclusion of new elements in the format of the original show on Zee.

“The show, with an innovative and exciting format, aims to captures the passion that Indian audiences have for music,” CEO of Star Entertainment, Samir Nair told UNI.