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 BBC World premiered University Challenge, a new quiz programme in India on Thursday, August 7, 2003, at 2200 IST. The 32-episode series started with a special exhibition episode showcasing winning teams from the UK University Challenge show who were pitted against teams from Indian colleges.
The Indian team from IIT Madras comprising Ajit Narayanan, Swaroop Venkatesh, Sreeram Subramanium and Mohan Ravichandran won the first challenge against the UK team of Anthony Gillham, Colum Gallivan, Anthony Walsh and Thor Halland from Birkbeck College, University of London.
Hosted by India’s favourite quizmaster Siddhartha Basu, the programme is telecast every Thursday at 2200 IST, with another chance to view on Sundays at 1000
IST.
“It’s a brilliant start to the programme, as Birkbeck, being reigning champions in UK of one of the toughest quizzes going, were very much the fancied team. But on a pitch that was as neutral as we could make it, the whiz kids from IIT Madras beat the Birkbeck team with 150 points over 85 and proved too quick and sure for them. The rounds to follow are keenly competitive and just as interesting", said Siddhartha Basu.
The best quizzing teams from the top Indian universities and colleges will battle it out to win the prestigious University Challenge trophy. Sponsored by Samsung Sound, the quiz covers the gamut of sports, theatre, technology, industries, film, music, dance, science and medicine, television, advertising, art and literature, destinations, cuisine and many other areas.
Based on UK’s popular TV quiz show running successfully for 40 years, University Challenge is one of the longest running quiz shows in the world. Set against a high-tech backdrop, the show is a compelling series to engage young and old viewers alike.
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