SonyLIV and Sony TV are facing backlash from disappointed audiences after the abrupt removal of the Lakhpati Prize segment from Kaun Banega Crorepati 2025.
Introduced with much fanfare as a refreshing new format twist, the prize was touted as a feature that would span 100 episodes, offering participants a steady opportunity to win and fans a reason to stay engaged. Yet, after just 15 episodes, the segment was quietly scrapped without explanation.
This sudden move has not gone unnoticed. For loyal viewers who tuned in daily, the Lakhpati Prize wasn’t merely a gimmick, it was a promise. By yanking it away so quickly, Sony risks alienating an audience that values consistency, fairness, and, above all, trust. After all, game shows thrive on anticipation. When that anticipation is cut short, it leaves viewers not only frustrated but questioning the credibility of the platform itself.
What makes the situation worse is the lack of transparency. Neither SonyLIV nor Sony TV has offered a public statement addressing the change. Was it a programming oversight? A sponsorship issue? A shift in strategy? In the absence of answers, viewers are left to speculate, and their patience is wearing thin.
Television is built on a contract of trust between creators and audiences. When platforms dangle rewards, create expectations, and then pull back without accountability, they do more harm than they realize. Audiences today have choices, and loyalty cannot be taken for granted. Sony’s silence only adds to the perception that the viewers’ commitment is being undervalued.
If Sony wishes to repair this fracture, transparency is the bare minimum.
Viewers deserve clarity and honesty, not abrupt disappearances and broken promises. Until then, the Lakhpati Prize fiasco will stand as a cautionary reminder of how easily goodwill can be squandered.