Drama, tears, fights, laughter – Bigg Boss has it all. Year after year, the reality show captures audiences across India with its mix of entertainment and unpredictability. It is more than just a program;
it has become a cultural event that sparks debates, fan wars, and endless social media chatter.
Now, Kannada viewers are gearing up for another dose of this spectacle. Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12 is set to premiere on September 28, with Kiccha Sudeep returning as the host.
At the same time, Bigg Boss Hindi Season 19 has already created buzz. But here’s something many still wonder – who really owns this show, and how much money does it make?
Who Really Owns Bigg Boss?
For fans it might look as if the hosts themselves run the show. Their presence and popularity are so strong that many assume they are the mastermind behind it. The reality, however, lies far away.
Bigg Boss is actually owned by the Endemol Shine Group, a Netherlands-based media company. The format is adapted from their original show “Big Brother,” which first aired in the Netherlands and then spread across the world.
In India, Endemol Shine licenses the format to different language broadcasters, which is why we have Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and other versions. While the names and faces change, the essence remains the same – contestants locked inside a house with no contact with the outside world.
Journey of Bigg Boss in India
India got its first taste of Bigg Boss in 2006, when Arshad Warsi took charge as host. The following season was anchored by Shilpa Shetty, and Amitabh Bachchan stepped in for the third.
But the turning point came when Salman Khan joined as host in Season 4. His personality, style, and star power elevated the show to a new level. Since then, Salman has been synonymous with Bigg Boss Hindi.
He has occasionally shared the stage with Sanjay Dutt in one season and Farah Khan for a few episodes, but his consistency since 2011 has made him the face of the brand.
In Kannada, the journey has been different. Kiccha Sudeep has been the face of every season, making him as inseparable from Bigg Boss in Karnataka as Salman is in Hindi. Same with Vijay Sethupathy in Tamil, Nagarjuna in Telugu and Mohanlal in Malayalam. Their steady presence has made these stars a household name, earning him the title of Bigg Boss of the small screen in his own right.
How Bigg Boss Makes Its Money
Though official numbers are rarely disclosed, it is no secret that Bigg Boss runs into hundreds of crores in revenue every year. The biggest source of income is advertising. With millions glued to their screens daily, ad slots during the show are some of the most expensive on television.
Apart from advertising, sponsorship deals, brand tie-ups, and product placements inside the house add to the revenue stream. The show also earns from digital rights, as episodes are streamed online on platforms like JioCinema or Voot, depending on the season.
Add to that international broadcasting rights and revenue from online voting systems, and the numbers climb even higher. What makes Bigg Boss unique is its reach beyond the TV set.
Clips of fights, emotional moments, and tasks flood social media platforms daily. Memes trend, hashtags dominate, and contestants often become overnight sensations. In effect, Bigg Boss doesn’t just live inside its house, it dominates digital conversations until the finale.
The Real Bigg Boss
For fans, it may feel like Sudeep, Salman or Nagarjuna owns the brand, but the truth is global. Bigg Boss is an international format with Indian adaptations that rake in massive profits. Endemol Shine Group holds the rights, while Indian broadcasters and sponsors cash in on the craze.
So the next time you see contestants bickering or shedding tears inside the Bigg Boss house, remember, behind all that chaos is a finely tuned business model, turning human drama into crores of revenue.
