Popular quiz show Bournvita Quiz Contest has now moved online. Anu Prabhakar talks to the team about the show’s digital avatar and how the audience can participate in the new format
If you grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, you know the Bournvita Quiz Contest (BQC). The popular quiz show first started out as a live show, before moving to the radio and later, television. It was broadcast for nearly 19 years, until it was discontinued last year.
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Derek O’Brien with the participants
Keeping up with the times, BQC has now moved online. Its digital version went live on December 30 and two episodes
will be uploaded on www.YouTube.com/BQCIndia every Tuesday and Friday. In an email interview, Prashant Peres, Director — Beverages, Gum & Candy and Marketing Services, Mondelez India Foods Ltd and host Derek O’Brien talk about the show’s new chapter.
Q. What brought about the idea to move the contest online?
Prashant Peres (PP): With the proliferation of TV channels today and the fixed timeslot nature of television programming, the reach and the appeal was getting limited. The macro trend of people watching content at their convenience was also staring at us. Digital is a medium with an extensive reach and flexible sources of distribution. It also helps us break the barrier of participation only at a fixed time and execute the true ‘play along’ experience to the viewer. The idea was to persuade more audiences to follow and participate.
Prakash Perres
Q. How is the content different?
PP: We realised that earlier, when we were a part of the television space, our viewers were mere spectators, but they always answered the questions in their mind. Now, the audience can not only play along but also compete with the participants. Along with being able to answer all questions given to the participants in the show, every episode will also have an exclusive round for the audience, giving it a feel of a live show.
Q. Could you tell us a bit about the IndiaPlaysBQC app?
PP: The IndiaPlaysBQC app is an added feature of BQC, not part of the show. This app can be accessed on mobile phones and tablets and can be used to take quizzes anytime, anywhere. It is available on both Android and iOS. There is a 24/7 quizzing section, which contains questions across multiple levels of difficulty. A leader board will help audiences keep track of their progress and flaunt their IQ as they enjoy friendly competition with peers whilst watching the quiz show.
Q. Watching quiz contests is more of a family affair. Does it worry you that the new format may not find favour with everyone?
PP: The digital screen is a very personal media consumption vehicle. The show is designed to provide an engaging one-on-one experience. We have no doubt that the new show will maintain its appeal across all age groups, in fact the appeal will only go up.
Q. Derek, have you consciously or unconsciously tweaked the way you anchor the show, keeping in mind its new digital avatar?
A. The digital space is all about real-time responsiveness and appeal. It wasn’t a conscious decision but hosting India’s first ever programme for digital was more exciting. The episodes had to be sharply recorded and well-timed
— yet another reason to be swift.
Q. What can this do for the show?
A. Derek: With the digital version and the USP of viewing/playing along anytime, anywhere there won’t be any boundaries or barriers in terms of reach.
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