MUMBAI: If you can't beat them, try something distinctly different. That seems to be the tack Sony has decided upon as regards the 10:30 pm slot, which is currently in programming limbo land as far as the channel is concerned.

Come December 20 and Sony is all set to launch CID Special Bureau and another crime based thriller in the 10:30 pm band titled Rihaee that will together run from Mondays through to Thursdays. The strategy appears to be, rather than trying to take Hindi entertainment's queen of soaps Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi on Star Plus head on, offer the viewer something completely different.

Building on the success the channel has received from its stellar show CID, the channel is launching a different series that takes the hit crime thriller to a different level. Called CID Special Bureau, it is slotted on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30 pm starting 20 December .

Wednesdays and Thursdays will see Rihaee another crime based show at 10:30 pm, the launch of this is slotted for 22 December, reliable industry sources have confirmed to indiantelevision.com.

Giving the two shows that extra push will be Sony's current top rated show Indian Idol. The channel has incorporated 10 minute capsules of Idol throughout the week at 7:55 pm and 10:30 pm. These two shows are expected to benefit from the tune-in's these capsules generate for the channel.

When contacted for further details, Sony officials, however, refused comment.