Tag: DD National

DD National viewership drops by 46% as ‘Ramayan’ concludes

MUMBAI: DD National has been at the top of the charts for the last few weeks with its airing of Ramayan. However, as the last episode of the show aired in week 16 and gave way to Uttar Ramayan, there was a drop in viewership by 46 per cent, according to BARC-Nielsen report.

Ramayan aired at 9 am and 9 pm while Uttar Ramayan airs only at 9 pm. The morning slot saw a dip of 66 per cent while the night slot saw a 29 per cent drop. While morning viewers shifted to news, kids, music, the evening ones went to other GECs and movie channels.

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April 30, 2020
DD National, Sun TV & Zee Biskope see viewership growth across genres

BENGALURU: Week 13 of 2020 was a peak week in terms of television viewership which had climbed to an all-time high. Viewership fell in week 14 of 2020, but seems to have recovered a bit in week 15 of 2020 (Saturday, 11 April 2020 to Friday, 17 April 2020, week under review). Towards the mid-end of Week 12 of 2020 was when the Indian COVID-19 lockdown happened (25 March 2020), but events such as the Janta curfew happened at the start of week 12. Hence, week 12 can be considered the first week of the Indian COVID-19 lockdown. Television viewing habits and viewership have changed completely during the lockdown period in the country.

Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data for week 15 of 2020 reveals that only one of the nine channels that were present in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms, on pay platform and free platform in weeks 13, 14 and 15 of 2020 have seen viewership growth in week on week (w-o-w) to week 15 as compared to the peak week. Pubcaster network Doordarshan’s (DD) flagship channel DD National saw viewership grow 21.4 per cent in week 14 of 2020 as compared to week 13 and saw it grow further in week 15 by 38.2 per cent vis-à-vis week 14 in BARC’s weekly across genres lists on all platforms. The most widely available terrestrial channel in the country saw viewership grow 68 per cent in week 15 as compared to week 13 in BARC’s weekly across genres lists on all platforms. The rerun of the mythology shows Ramayan and Mahabharat and a number of classics from the 80’s and 90’s of the previous century have helped two channels of DD grow viewership tremendously.

Top 10 channels across genres on all platforms

Nine channels have appeared in BARC’s weekly across genres lists on all platforms during all the three weeks under consideration here. The only exception was the Sun Network’s Tamil movies channel KTV, which exited in BARC’s weekly across genres lists on all platforms in week 14 of 2020, to be replaced by Viacom18’s Kids channel Nick.

Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil channel Sun TV saw viewership decline in week 14 by19.4 per cent as compared to week 13 of 2020, but then climb again strongly in week 15 by 48 per cent as compared to week 13.

Two channels, each from DD, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel each from Enterr 10 Television, Star India, Sun Tv Network and Viacom18, were present in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms in week 25 of 2020. Five of the channels were Hindi GECs; there were two Hindi movie channels and there was one channel each from the kids, Tamil and Telugu genres present in the list in week 15 of 2020.

Please refer to the chart below

Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres

In BARC’s weekly lists of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres for weeks 13, 14 and 15 of 2020, DD National was the only channel that saw w-o-w growth in weeks 14 and 15 as compared to week 13 of 2020.

Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres have been the same in weeks 13, 14 and 15 of 2020 with a shuffling of ranks. The only change was when KTV exited the list in week 15 of 2020 to be replaced by its network’s sibling Telugu GEC Gemini TV.

Three channels each from the Hindi movies and Telugu genres, two channels from the Hindi GEC genre and one channel each from the kids and Tamil
genre made up BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 15 of 2020. Two channels each from SPN, Star, Sun and Viacom 18 (one from Viacom18 and one from Eenadu TV group in which Viacom18’s majority owner Network18 has a stake) and one channel each from DD and Zee were present in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres.

Please refer to the charts below:

Top 10 Free-to-Air Channels Across Genres

In the case of BARC’s weekly lists of Top 10 Free-to-Air Channels Across Genres, it was again DD National that maintained its w-o-w growth in weeks 14 and 15 as compared to week 13 of 2020. Further, Zeel’sBhohpuri cinema channel Zee Biskope also showed growth during week 15 vis-à-vis week 13, but it had seen a viewership drop in week 14 as compared to week 13 of 2020.

Four Hindi GECs’, three channels from the Hindi Movies, two channels from the Bhojpuri genre and one channel from the Youth genre comprised BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free-to-Air Channels Across Genres in week 15 of 2020. There were three channels each from Enterr 10 Television and Zeel and two channels each from B4U and DD networks in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free-to-Air Channels Across Genres during the week under review.

Here also, nine of the channels were present during the three weeks under consideration in this paper, but again with some shuffling of ranks. The India Today group’s Hindi News channel AajTakexited the list in week 14 to be replaced by DD’s Hindi GEC DD Bharati.

Please refer to the charts below:

April 24, 2020
POGO collaborates with DD National to simulcast ‘Chhota Bheem’

MUMBAI: India’s homegrown kids’ entertainment channel POGO has partnered with public service broadcaster Doordarshan to simulcast ‘Chhota Bheem’, on DD National. The hugely popular animation features the superhero Bheem who comes all the way from Dholakpur to entertain kids every afternoon from 2-2:30 PM on DD National from April 17- May 3, 2020.

WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks in South Asia managing director Siddharth Jain said: “These are challenging times and we believe that POGO’s fun-filled, relatable content will keep kids engaged and entertained. We are very pleased to collaborate with a platform as distinguished and popular as Doordarshan. The agreement ensures that an even larger number of young viewers across the country will be able to enjoy ‘Chhota Bheem’, one of our most prominent shows.”

Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said: “Doordarshan is pleased to partner with POGO to simulcast Chhota Bheem on DD National. Chhota Bheem is one of children’s most favourite cartoon character, and we are delighted to bring him on our channel to entertain our young viewers.”

Since the commencement of the lockdown, DD National has been re-telecasting its iconic shows to entertain viewers across age groups while they stay home. With this collaboration, DD National will be able to broadcast immensely popular and iconic kids’ entertainment content from POGO, captivating audiences across the country.

April 17, 2020
DD’s winning streak continues, leads urban 15+ markets in BARC week 14

MUMBAI: DD National's winning streak is continuing week after week in lockdown.

In week 14 of BARC India ratings, DD National's rating has moved up from 376 GRPs to 451 GRPs in the HSM urban 15+ market. The channel has managed to beat even the best Hindi GECs, riding on the back of iconic re-runs. Its viewership was more than double that of second position Sony Sab.

Last week for the first time, the pubcaster's Hindi GEC DD National entered the top ten channels list in urban market as well as pay platform.

According to BARC – Nielsen report in week 13, Ramayan garnered 545.8 million impressions and with that DD National became the most-watched channel in week 3 of lockdown. The re-telecast of the show garnered the highest ever rating for a Hindi GEC show since 2015. The show was highest rated in the urban market and megacities. In week 13, Ramayan recorded 46,395 weekly impressions and entered the list of top five programmes in the hindi GEC category.

The channel has been witnessing viewership spikes ever since it launched Ramayan to entertain its viewers.

DD National also started airing Subhash Sagar's Alif Laila. It looks like the pubcaster's channel will continue to bring back more shows to ensure that people will get to watch their favourite old shows during lockdown.

Sony SAB was in the second position in the week 14 with 214 GRPs and Sony Entertainment Television was in the third position with 133 GRPs.

April 16, 2020
Hindi GEC hits new all-time high with 4 bn impressions in week 14

MUMBAI: In week 14 of TV viewership, the Hindi GEC genre has witnessed an all-time viewership high since 2015. According to the BARC-Nielsen -TV+ smartphone consumption data, the genre has grabbed four million impressions in the HSM urban market.

Ramayan is said to be the biggest driver of viewership growth in the urban HSM market in week 14. There have been 73 per cent episodic duplications and 83 per cent weekly duplication for Ramayan which was the highest among all Hindi GEC shows.

This week Ramayan grabbed 61,397 weekly impressions (000s) on DD National. The channel was leading on pay platform with 1,427,722 weekly impressions, and in the urban market it was leading with 1,099,834 weekly impressions (000s).

22 per cent of kids are watching Ramayan with their grandparents/senior people at home. Co-viewing with 15+ years grew by 88 per cent.

April 16, 2020
Prasar Bharati takes nostalgic ride with new channel DD Retro

MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati is all set to take people on a nostalgic ride after the success of Ramayan and Mahabharat re-runs with its new fourth general entertainment channel DD Retro. The channel will air some of the old iconic shows like Upanishad Ganga, Mahabharat, and Chanakya, among others. Currently, it is available on DD Free Dish which reaches out to almost 30 million people across the country.

In an earlier interview with Indiantelevision.com, Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said: "After the news of Ramayan made headlines and social media trends were dominated by it, we have had a flood of rights holders themselves approaching us with iconic content that aired in the past on DD."

Last week, two of Doordarshan's general entertainment channels, DD National and DD Bharti entered the top ten channels list in urban as well as pay platforms. DD National grabbed the leading position with the broadcast of old shows like Ramayan, Mahabharat, Shaktiman, etc. DD National also started airing Subhash Sagar's Alif Laila. Prasar Bharati's aim is to ensure that people will get to watch their favourite old shows during lockdown.

April 13, 2020
BARC week 13: Sony Entertainment Television continues to hold position in urban market and pay platform

MUMBAI: In week 13 of BARC India ratings, where most of the GECs were seen losing their position to DD National and slipping down from last week's position, Sony Entertainment Television was the only channel that continued to hold its third position on the pay platform and in the urban market. In fact, the channel has jumped from the seventh position to fifth position in the rural market. This week for the first time DD National grabbed the leading position on pay platform and Urban market.

On pay platform DD National, Sony SAB, Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, Star Plus, Zee TV, Dangal, Star Utsav, DD Bharati and Star Bharat were the top ten channels in the week 13 of BARC India ratings.

Pay Platform

In the urban market, the top ten channels were DD National, Sony SAB, Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, Dangal, DD Bharati, Star Plus, Zee TV, Big Magic and Star Utsav in week 13 of BARC India ratings.

Urban

Dangal, DD National, Big Magic, Sony SAB, Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, Zee TV, DD Bharat, Star Plus and Star Utsav were the top ten channels in the rural market

Rural

On the free platform, Dangal, Big Magic, DD National, DD Bharati, Manoranjan Grand, DD Madhya Pradesh, DD Uttar Pradesh, DD Rajasthan and DD Arunprabha were the top nine channels in week 13 of BARC ratings.

Free Platform

April 10, 2020
‘Ramayan’, movies drive out pay Hindi GECs, news from across genres list

BENGALURU: Weeks 12 of 2020 (Saturday, 21 March 2020 to Friday 27 March 2020) and 13 of 2020 (Saturday, 28 March 2020 to Friday, 3 April 2020) witnessed big changes in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly lists of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms. Week 12, the first week of the All India 21-day lockdown due to the dreaded covidvirus-19 had seen the entry of a Hindi News channel, the free to air (FTA) AajTak from the India Today group at rank 7. Only three GEC channels, two of which were FTA –Dangal (at rank 1), Big Magic (at rank 8) and Pay channel Sony Sab (at rank 3), were present in BARCs’ across genres on all platforms list in week 12 of 2020. Three Movies channels were also present in the list in week 12 along with two Telugu and one channel each of Tamil and Hindi News genres. Combined viewership of the Top 10 channels across genres in week 12 of 2020 was 8 percent higher than the combined viewership in week 11. From the Network’s perspective there were two channels each from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Star India and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel each from Enterr10 Television, Sun TV, TV Today group and Viacom18.

Week 13 of 2020 saw combined viewership of Top 10 channels across genres on all Platform climb even further- week 13 of 2020 saw week on week combined weekly impressions grow 18.3 percent as compared to the previous week. Eight of the channels in the weekly list for week 13 were the same as in week 12, but with higher ratings and a shuffling of ranks. Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa and AajTak exited the list in week 13 to make way for DD National (at rank 1) and Viacom18’s Kids channel Nick (at rank 9). BARC attributes DD National’s growth of viewership to re-runs of programmes such as Ramayan, Shaktiman and Buniyaad amongst others.

Four Hindi GECs, three channels from the Hindi Movies genre and one channel each from the Kids, Tamil and Telugu genres made up BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms. Please refer to the figure below:

Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres

BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 12 of 2020 had seen the exit of five big GECs’, four of which were Hindi GEC’s and one was a Kannada GEC. All the channels were flagship channels. The Hindi GECs’ were Viacom18’s Colors, SPN’s Sony Entertainment Television, Star India’s Star Plus and Zeel’s Zee TV and the Kannada GEC was Zeel’s Zee Kannada. Three of the channels that replaced these GECs’ were Hindi Movies channels and two were Telugu GEC channels. BARC revealed during a teleconference that many GECs’ have included classic soaps& dramas and movies as big part of their programming, more so in South India. Four Telugu channels, three Hindi Movies channels and one channel each from the Hindi GEC, Kids and Tamil genres made up BARC weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across genres in week 12 of 2020. There were two channels each from SPN, Star India, Sun Tv Network, Viacom18 and Zeel.

Week 13 of 2020 saw two channels exit BARCs’ weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres-the Sun Tv Network’s Telugu GEC Gemini and Zeel’s Zee Telugu. The new entrants were pubcasterDoordarshan’s (DD) flagship channel DD National and the Sun Tv Network’s Tamil Movies channel KTV. Hence there were three channels from the Hindi Movies genre, two channels each from Hindi GECs’, Tamil and Telugu and one channel from the Kids genre. From the network’s perspective, there were two channels each from SPN, Star India, Sun Tv Nework, Viacom18 and one channel each from DD and Zeel.

Please refer to figure below.

Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres

BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 12 of 2020 saw the exit of one Hindi Movies channel -ABZY Movies, to be replaced by Hindi News channel AajTak. The other nine channels in week 12 were same as in the previous week, with some shuffling in ranks. There were three channels each from the Bhojpuri and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Hindi GEC genre and one channel each from the Hindi News and Youth genres. There were four channels from Zeel, three channels from Enterr10 Television, two channels from B4U Network and one channel from the India Today group.

Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 13 of 2020 were the same as in week 12. The channel that exited the list was Zeel’s Bhojpuri channel Big Ganga, which was replaced by DD’s DD National. The nine channels from the previous week had some reshuffling of ranks. There were three channels each from the Hindi GEC and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Bhojpuri genre and one channel each from the Hindi News and the Youth genres. There were three channels each from Enterr10 Television and Zeel, two channels from B4U and one channel each from DD and the India Today group.

Please refer to the figure below:

April 10, 2020
DD National viewership soars due to classics’ re-run

MUMBAI: DD National has become the most-watched channel in week three of lockdown. The third edition of BARC-Nielsen report on TV+ smartphone consumption during the crisis shows that Ramayan on DD National at 9 am and 9 pm garnered 545.8 million weekly impressions in week 13. Mahabharat, which airs on DD Bharati at 12 noon and 7 pm, garnered 145.8 million impressions. The return of the classics made DD National the most-watched channel across India

The re-telecast of the show Ramayan garnered the highest-ever rating for a Hindi GEC show since 2015. The show was highest rated in the urban market and megacities. According to BARC India data, the first four episodes of Ramayan garnered an average of 28.7 million impressions.

"After the news of Ramayan made headlines and social media trends were dominated by it, we have had a flood of rights holders themselves approaching us with iconic content that aired in the past on DD," Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati told Indiantelevision.com.

Vempati informs that there has always been a demand from audiences to bring back the iconic serials of DD's golden era. So, DD started to re-telecast old shows like Shaktiman, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Shriman Shrimati, etc.

In 1987, Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan was aired for the first time on DD National which gathered many people in front of the television. But this time to entertain people at home and ensure the successful implementation of social distancing during COVID-19, the public broadcaster brought back the show on its Hindi GEC platforms DD National and DD Bharati.

Vempati says, “This demand was the reason why even before this crisis started, Prasar Bharati Board approved the new content acquisition policy last year. The current crisis however made a radical difference to these content acquisition efforts. There was a tumult of requests on social media. The prime minister in his speech to the nation spoke of a metaphorical Lakshman Rekha when he called upon the citizens to stay at home and to keep social distance for an effective lockdown. I am thankful to the I&B minister Prakash Javadekar for his advice and guidance in accelerating our efforts to engage with the rights holders to bring back the iconic serials to DD so that the public broadcaster was able to play its role in the government's efforts to ensure a successful lockdown.”

Apart from DD National and DD Bharati, Doordarshan’s regional channels are also bringing back old shows. Recently, DD Sahyadri started airing a special programme Aarohi from the 1980’s.

According to BARC data, the viewership on Doordashan channels rose by 16 per cent in 2019 over 2018. Last year also Prasar Bharati added 11 regional channels on DD Free Dish to expand its reach. Fifty per cent of its viewership comes from Hindi channels and the rest is garnered by its regional channels. “News and live coverage have been Doordarshan's USP. 2019 was an important year from a news and live standpoint with the general elections and several major public events all of which cumulatively contributed to the growth of DD's viewership,” says Vempati.

With regards to advertising and revenue growth on the back of these old shows, Vempati says, “It is too early to discuss revenues. Our priority right now is to ensure the audience are engaged and the lockdown is effective.”

April 9, 2020
DD National to telecast 80’s show ‘Ramayana’ from tomorrow

MUMBAI: Those who have been quarantined in their homes have one great reason to cheer! One of the most iconic TV serials of the 80s, Ramayana, is making a comeback from tomorrow.

DD National will re-telecast the serial from tomorrow (28 March). While one episode will be telecast between 9 am and 10 am, another episode will be aired between 9 pm and 10 pm, informed minister for information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.

The minister said: "Happy to announce that on public demand, we are starting retelecast of 'Ramayana' from tomorrow, Saturday, March 28 in DD National."

The series, aired on all Sundays between January 1987 and July 1988 in DD, has been etched in the nostalgic memories of Indians.

Just yesterday, we reported that Prasar Bharati is looking at re-runs of some of its iconic shows from the 80s. The other show that is likely to be re-commissioned is Mahabharat.

March 27, 2020