'First-of-its-kind' space travel reality series to get $50 million from Banijay Asia
Banijay Asia plans to invest $50 million (over Rs 400 crore) in a «first-of-its-kind» reality series tentatively titled 'Race to Space', making it India's most expensive television show, sources close to the development said.
The investment will cover the licensing fee to the US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) as well as production and talent costs, they added. Industry watchers said 'Bigg Boss Hindi', hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan, is currently the country's most expensive non-fiction show, with budgets exceeding Rs 150 crore. «Given the scale and scope of the project, this is not just a documentary series or just a reality series — it is a 'space programme',» Banjay Asia CEO Deepak Dhar said. The new reality format will revolutionise competitive reality television and rekindle interest in space exploration, he added.
Expressing optimism about the show's success in India, SERA co-founder Joshua Skurla cited the interest in last year's Chandrayaan-3 moon landing live-stream.
The series will feature the emotions of shortlisted persons overcoming challenges to become one among the first Indians to travel to space in Blue Origin's New Shepard reusable suborbital rocket. It will be produced in India and at the Huntsville, Alabama, Space Centre. The series is open to all Indian citizens who are interested in participating in the show.
Banijay is in talks with multiple streaming platforms to licence the show.
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