Except for one film, satellite rights of other Sankranthi releases are with one channel. Gemini TV has acquired satellite rights of NTR’s Nannaku Prematho, Balakrishna’s Dictator and Nagarjuna’s Soggade Chinni Nayana, while Maa TV has bagged the rights of Sharwanand’s Express Raja.
Usually, Maa TV shows keen interest in buying big league films, wherein Gemini TV is second biggest competitor. Now, Gemini TV changed its strategy and has stunned one and all by bagging all the big releases coming out for the festival, that too by shelling out massive prices.
They invested 6.25 crore on Dictator, 6.5 crore on Soggade Chinni Nayana and 10.25 crore on Nannaku Prematho. Overall, Gemini TV spent Rs 23 crores on these three films, whereas Maa TV invested only 3.25 crores to purchase Express Raja satellite rights.
Interestingly, all the Sankranthi releases with different genres are targeted largely at family audiences, so such huge demand for satellite rights of these films.
In fact, competition was heavy for the three big films. Few other channels were also in the race, but Gemini TV picked them providing fancy offers to the producers.