MUMBAI: The march of great Indian reality wave continues. Star India has acquired Dutch-based Endemol Entertainment's Heartbeat, a high-tension quiz show.
 

Just when Star Plus will get the show up on air is unclear though. Hardly surprising considering that everyone's attention is at present only on the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) which is scheduled for a 5 August launch.

Heartbeat could well slot into the vacancy left when KBC2 completes its 85-episode run.

Heartbeat involves contestants who enter a hermetically sealed booth one by one. All they can hear are the questions being fired at them and their own replies.

Contestants are allowed a fixed number of heartbeats to answer each question. If they cross one beat over, they are sent out of the game. For answering regular questions correctly, they are given the chance to go for a big cash prize. And the money is doubled for the right answer to the jackpot question.

Contestants can use two telephone calls to any of their friends when they need help with an answer (shades of KBC's "Phone a Friend" helpline. The game show also has a popular celebrity version.
 
 

Heartbeat has been produced in Argentina, Finland, the Netherlands and Portugal. According to official data provided by Endemol, the special celebrity edition of Heartbeat had an average share of 48 per cent in Argentina and a peak of 53.7 per cent.

Argentina's first series of Heartbeat reached an average share of 35 per cent, increasing the channel's average share by 18 per cent. And in the Netherlands because of Heartbeat VIPS 2004, the channel's market share increased 17 per cent.

It may be recalled that Star has also bought the rights of Endemol's reality format The Match. Endemol and Star will produce The Cricket Match, a desi version of The Match, which aired in the UK on Sky One and revolved around soccer.