New Delhi, July 18 - Two new reality shows, 'Sach Ka Saamna' and 'Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao', have hit the Indian small screen in quick succession, adding to the list of programmes adapted from tried and tested international formats.

Industry experts say it isn't lack of originality that makes producers and creative heads of channels adapt foreign formats; they do so because it provides a convenient reference point and also makes business sense.

'In a highly competitive field, producers are always looking for a killer application. The appeal of an international format is that if a show has been tried and tested and proved to be a success elsewhere, it seems a better investment,' Siddharth Basu, the pioneer of quiz and game reality shows in India, told IANS.

Namit Sharma of Wizcraft Television agrees.

'International formats come with a certain learning like target audience for the show, time required to produce it, per episode cost, etc. And once you have these things in place, you don't have to start from scratch...I think buying a format gives you that strength,' said Sharma, the business head and chief creative director of the production house.

Wizcraft has produced home-grown shows like 'Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega' and 'Nach Baliye'.

'The disadvantage with home-grown formats is that they don't come with any reference point and it's like shooting in the dark - you have to go with your instinct completely,' said Sharma.

Of the latest two reality shows, 'Sach Ka Saamna' hosted by actor Rajeev Khandelwal on STAR Plus has been adapted from 'Moment Of Truth' while Sony TV's 'Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao', which shows several celebrities camping in a jungle, is the Indian version of 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here'.

Besides these two, the small screen has seen a slew of programmes inspired by western entertainment formats. These include 'India's Got Talent', an adaptation of 'Britain's Got Talent', while the idea for 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar' has been taken from 'The Bachelorette'.