ITV

Tag: TAM

  • Zee TV is the only gainer in Week 48

    Zee TV is the only gainer in Week 48

    MUMBAI: As the alleged rape case involving Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal and a female journalist working with the magazine unfolded last week, the focus of Indian television viewers seem to have shifted from the general entertainment channels to the news channels.

    Otherwise there’s no reason for almost all the general entertainment channels (GECs) to witness a drop in its ratings in the week 48 of TAM TV ratings. It was just Zee TV that has gained with 448,553 GVTs (433,447), though it maintains its third position in the chart. Star Plus continues to lead with 548,331 GVTs (560,497) followed by Colors that has registered 478,534 GVTs (513,415).

    Life OK continues to be at number four with 334,327 GVTs (335,013), Sab TV with 269,269 GVTs (308,133) is at number five. Sony continues to be at number six with 238,987 GVTs (269,332). Sahara One is still lagging behind and is at the bottom of the ratings list with 33,691 GVTs (30,429).

    Coming back to the chart topper, Star Plus, its most popular and loved show in the prime-time slot seems to be losing out on viewers. This time Diya Aur Baati Hum has registered only 11,449 TVTs (12,298). Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, another popular offering from the channel too registered 7,329 TVTs (7,863). Even the viewership of Pyar Ka Dard Hai went down as it scored 6,661 TVTs (7,351). However, Sath Nibhana Saathiya managed enough to balance it out. The show registered 8,683 TVTs (8,290). The epic series Mahabharat too notched up and scored 7,170 TVTs (6,835). And surprisingly, the ratings of Saraswati Chandra too went up. It registered 5,367 TVTs (5,071). The ratings of popular celebrity dance reality show, Nach Baliye, however didn’t witness much change and registered 4,267 TVTs (4,736).

    Colors longest running and the most popular fiction series, Balika Vadhu generated 6,513 TVTs (6,684), while Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon scored 4,329 TVTs (4,749). Uttaran that has been on-air on the channel since quite some time now also witnessed a significant rise and rated 4,031 TVTs (3,645). However, Comedy Nights with Kapil that has been tickling the funny bones of the audience and has been really popular seems to have lost its charm this week and has witnessed a drop with 7,851 TVTs (8,464). The international series 24 starring Anil Kapoor has also failed to click with the audience and has registered 2,797 TVTs (3,058 TVTs). The unfolding romance and drama in the celebrity-reality show Bigg Boss too hasn’t worked too well for the channel as even that has lost out on viewers. Bigg Boss registered 5,102 TVTs (5,491).

    For Zee TV, its period drama Jodha Akbar seems to have worked well. The ratings of the show notched up taking its tally to 10,182 TVTs (9,801). Its sitcom Bh se Bhade too managed enough viewers and scored 2,079 TVTs (1,650). Even the ratings of Qubool Hai registered 5,862 TVTs (5,830). The ratings of Pavitra Rishta and Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se escalated as well with 5,468 TVTs (5,043) and 5,369 TVTs (5,019) respectively. Its popular dance reality show, Dance India Dance 4, however witnessed a drop and scored 4,323 TVTs (4,666) during the weekend.

    Fourth placed, Life OK witnessed a slight rise in its popular mythological series Mahadev and managed 3,312 TVTs (3,212). Even its new horror series Khauff Begins fared well in the first week with 2,539 TVTs. The ratings of Ek Boond Ishq and Do Dil Ek Jaan remained stable with 2,833 TVTs (2,834) and 1,491 TVTs (1,494) respectively. Crime-based show Shapath witnessed a huge drop and generated 3,055 TVTs (4,057). Crime-based show Savdhaan India scored 3,024 TVTs (3,035). Tumhari Paakhi managed to grab enough eye balls to take its TVT to 2,183 TVTs (1,877).

    Sab’s fiction show, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah that has been keeping viewers in splits since last few years, has lost viewership it seems as it registered just 7,647 TVTs (8,856). Even Chidiya Ghar saw a significant drop and generated 2,935 TVTs (3,479). Lapataganj saw a slight dip as well and generated 1,769 TVTs (1,921). Baalveer registered 2,643 TVTs (3,293).

    Almost all the shows on Sony witnessed a drop in its ratings. Even its longest running crime series CID that has been really popular with the viewers witnessed a drop with 4,600 TVTs (5,254). Even Crime Patrol managed just 2,964 TVTs (3,255). The channel’s historical show Maharana Pratap recorded 2,733 TVTs (3,054), while quiz show KBC witnessed a drop and registered 3,248 TVTs (3,738). Other fiction shows either maintained a stable position or dipped marginally during the week. Its horror flick, Bhoot Aaya doesn’t seem to entice viewers as it registered only 1,423 TVTs (1,662).

    In the movie channel genre, Zee Cinema reported 253,575 GVTs (197,512); Star Gold registered 181,167 GVTs (178,122) and Movies OK scored 133,805 GVTs (127,470). On the other hand, &pictures witnessed a huge drop and scored 81,291 GVTs (112,609), Zee Anmol registered 55,524 GVTs (46,088) and Max scored 129,948 GVTs (200,508).

    While all the GECs have maintained a stable position this week with only Zee TV gaining few extra points, let’s see what’s in store for the channels in the coming weeks.

  • Cabinet set to deliberate on TV ratings guidelines

    Cabinet set to deliberate on TV ratings guidelines

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI’s) recommendations are seeing movement to enable them to serve as the gold standard for television ratings. Currently with the law ministry, the file relating to TV rating guidelines is expected to be presented to the Cabinet very soon.

    The TRAI had come up with its own analysis and recommendations around how TV ratings should be done in India following  discussions with the various stakeholders in September 2013; with the Union Cabinet expected to deliberate and give it sanction soon it could well be en route to become law.

     “The recommendations are fair and are neither pro nor against any measuring body. However, it is very clear that it will be passed by the cabinet,” says the highly placed source from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF).

    As reported by indiantelevison.com in September, the regulatory body had sent out the recommendations on what should serve as guidelines to put in place a transparent, credible and reliable television ratings process in the country.  

    Amongst the recommendations is that any agency wanting to offer TV viewership monitoring or rating services has to perforce get itself registered with the ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) if it fulfills the following guidelines: “The rating agency shall be set up and registered as a company under the Companies Act, 1956; any member of the board of directors of the television rating agency should not be in the business of broadcasting/ advertising/advertising agency; the rating agency should have a minimum net worth of Rs 20 crore; the rating agency should also meet the prescribed cross-holdings requirements.”

    TRAI had also stated that to keep the ratings process credible, there should be a minimum of 20,000 panel homes which have to be set up within six months of the guidelines being implemented. Thereafter the number of panel homes has to be increased by 10,000 every year until it reaches 50,000.

    To meet and fulfill the last criteria, TAM, the current measuring body, will have to invest a large sum of moolah ( Rs 100 crore plus) every year. This could well be a major challenge for it, if sources are to be believed. For the Indian broadcast industry, has pretty much been chary of funding any of its expansion plans, in the past.

    “Its very existence will be under tremendous threat over the next year or so,” says a media observer. “If it manages to raise the money despite all the cross media equity holding restrictions, then it should be all right. But it will have to contend with BARC which will be getting the industry’s support and should start by mid to late next year.  I would not like to be in TAM’s shoes.”

    However, the source adds that most stakeholders involved in it hope that TAM will be able to participate in the working of BARC as well.

    Another industry source comments, “We don’t care about what happens to TAM. The industry has opted for a new measuring system, then why should we think about TAM’s fate?”

    Watever be the case, one thing is clear BARC is no more suffering teething problems and will sooner than later  bring about a paradigm shift in the audience measuring game in India. And as far as TAM goes, it needs come up to scratch and follow the TRAI guidelines.

    The ratings race may have only just begun.

  • Bindass climbs the rating ladder with content that connects

    Bindass climbs the rating ladder with content that connects

    MUMBAI: It seems content and digitisation has helped Bindass in a big way. The channel climbed the TV ratings ladder in week 46 of TAM TV ratings with 20,533 GVTs, leaving its rivals MTV and Channel [V] far behind with 14,160 and 16,576 GVTs respectively.

     

    “Both our content as well as digitisation has helped our channel to a great extent. It has helped us reach out to our core TG which is the youth,” says Disney executive director content media networks Indrajit Ray.

     

    Digitisation, according to Ray, has led to democratisation of channels. “Earlier there was limited penetration of channels and thus only the popular channels with better resources could reach every household. Digitisation has helped us to increase our reach,” he says.

     

    According to the ratings provided by Bindass, the top five shows for the week in the youth space were: Yeh Hai Aashiqui (1,852 TVTs), Channel [V] Gumraah Season 3 (1,056 TVTs), Emotional Atyachaar on Bindass (882 TVTs), MTV Webbed (628 TVTs) and [V] Crazy Stupid Love (208 TVTs).

     

    The channel has been working towards improving its GVTs for a long time now. “It is not a week’s work, but a long process. The ratings are not a result of one single promotional activity,” remarks Ray, attributing the growth in ratings to Yeh Hai Aashiqui. He also informs that the channel’s team has formulated an aggressive plan to offer more. “Currently, we have two hours of original content, we plan to increase this,” he adds.

     

    The growing number of GVTs is an indication for the channel that brand Bindass is being accepted among newer audiences. “We believe this was largely on account of its popular mass narrative based on youth themes,” remarks Ray, who also thinks that the channel has been able to strike a chord with its audience because the content reflects the thought of today’s youth in the best way. “Our content is a reflection of what the youth feels today. Relationships, which are the most important part of any youngster’s life has been underserved,” adds Ray, emphasising that Bindaas is a platform for many youngsters to raise their concerns on issues that interests them.

     

    Talking about the reach, Ray says, “We have a fair equitable reach in the Hindi speaking market. We are strong in the north and now have also become popular in west and central India. Our core TG is between 15-24 years, but we do not restrict our programming to this age group. Our shows also cater to older people.”

     

    Bindass, for Ray, is a channel that brings to the fore issues that are brushed under the carpet. “We do not sensationalise but reflect the truth,” he says with hope that the channel will continue to be on the growth trajectory.

  • Zee TV, Sab gain in week 46 TAM ratings

    Zee TV, Sab gain in week 46 TAM ratings

    MUMBAI: Week 46 of TAM TV ratings has not brought much happiness for the General Entertainment Channels (GEC) as most of them have seen a drop in its ratings.  However, there are few gainers as well — Zee TV scored 440,447 GVTs (428,610) but maintains its number three position; Sab at number five turned out to be the second gainer with 315,637 GVTs (310,534).

    Star Plus continued to lead the ratings chart despite of witnessing a drop in its score — 529,193 GVTs (536,270). Colors also maintained its number two position with 479,010 GVTs (486,423). Life OK too remained at number four with 340,200 GVTs (344,624) followed by Sab. Sony that escalated to number five last week is back to its number six position with 297,801 GVTs (341,054).

    Star Plus that is leading the chart witnessed few variations in the ratings of its popular shows — Diya Aur Baati Hum registered 11,223 TVTs (10,921), Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai too registered 7,335 TVTs (7,039). However, Pyar Ka Dard Hai maintained a stable position with 7,774 TVTs (7,754). Sath Nibhana Saathiya, one of the most popular shows in the pre-primetime slot trudged with 7,708 TVTs (7,518). The epic series Mahabharat too registered 5,807 TVTs (5,475). The ratings of Saraswati Chandra also didn’t see much change with 5,111 TVTs (5,170). The channel’s recently launched popular celebrity dance reality show Nach Baliye witnessed a drop in its ratings and registered 4,741 TVTs (6,034).

    There are few surprises in store for Colors’ as well. Its longest running fiction series, Balika Vadhu saw a dip and generated 7,298 TVTs (7,581), while Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon scored 4,473 TVTs (4,594). Uttaran, another popular show on the channel also witnessed a significant rise and rated 4,096 TVTs (3,690). Comedy Nights with Kapil that has become one of the most popular shows across channels of late witnessed a huge rise with 8,588 TVTs (7,357), but contrarily, the much hyped Indian adaptation of the international series 24 starring Anil Kapoor saw a dip and scored 2,881 TVTs (3,222). The Bigg Boss bickering seems to be getting really popular as the celebrity reality show has again witnessed a slight increase in its ratings and marked 5,316 TVTs (5,133).

    Zee TV’s period drama Jodha Akbar and sitcom Bh Se Bhade seems to have worked some wonders for the channel. While the former registered 9,176 TVTs (8,989), the former too witnessed a rise with 2,080 TVTs (1,735). Even the channel’s fictional offering Qubool Hai witnessed a hike and registered 5,646 TVTs (5,397). Pavitra Rishta generated 4,879 TVTs (4,345), while its drama series, Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se registered 5,622 TVTs (5,159). Its popular dance reality show, Dance India Dance 4 scored 5,075 TVTs (3,806) on Saturday and 5,547 TVTs (5,550) on a Sunday.

    Life OK witnessed a rise in its popular mythological series Mahadev. It scored 3,693 TVTs (3,073). Ek Boond Ishq also saw a massive rise and registered 3,112 TVTs (2,528). Shapath too seems to be becoming a favourite among the viewers. It generated 4,392 TVTs (3,418). Do Dil Ek Jaan registered 1,472 TVTs (1,438) while crime-based show Savdhaan India generated 2,848 TVTs (2,730). The channel’s new entrant Tumhari Paakhi saw a decent opening with 2,068 TVTs.

    Sab’s fiction show, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah continues to get viewership as with 7,782 TVTs (7,135) it leads among all its other shows. Even Chidiya Ghar saw a significant rise and generated 3,265 TVTs (2,836). Lapataganj generated 1,986 TVTs (1,894) and Baalveer registered 3,134 TVTs (2,375).

    At the sixth position, Sony witnessed a drop in the ratings of its longest running crime series CID — 4,744 TVTs (5,501). Crime Patrol could manage only 3,887 TVTs (4,284). The channel’s historical show Maharana Pratap garnered 2,922 TVTs (2,668), while quiz show KBC witnessed a drop and recorded 3,738 TVTs (4,029). Other fiction shows either maintained a stable position or dipped marginally during the week. Its new horror flick, Bhoot Aaya registered 1,792 TVTs (1,583).

    In the movie channel genre, Zee Cinema reported 185,759 GVTs (218,568); Star Gold witnessed a drop and registered 174,020 TVTs (217,861) and Movies OK scored 130,641 TVTs (138,425). On the other hand, &pictures garnered 77,910 TVTs (71,225), Zee Anmol registered 44,457 TVTs (41,776) and Max scored 173,908 TVTs (197,869).

    While the GECs have maintained their positions this week, let’s see what’s in store for the channels in the coming weeks.

  • Sachins farewell frenzy works in favour of Star Sports

    Sachins farewell frenzy works in favour of Star Sports

    MUMBAI: He isn’t called the God of cricket for no reason. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar certainly has some supremacy that creates magic. His farewell test match has emerged as the highest rated test match on television in India in the last eight years. According to the TAM ratings provided by the channel, the match garnered 1739 average TVTs (TG: C&S 15+, M, SEC ABC) that remains unmatched since 2005.

     

    The two test matches in the India-West Indies series were telecast on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD1 in English, while Star Sports 3 showcased the match in Hindi. Star Sports network channels together had the maximum channel share across all genres during the six days when the test series was on in terms of overall TVTs generated during the day.

     

    Even online, the Sachin frenzy worked well for the Network. The series was also streamed live on www.starsports.com that attracted 3.5 million unique visitors during the two matches of the India West Indies test series. A Sachin Memory Project that captured Sachin’s 24 years with videos and stories was also launched on the website and has received rave reviews with many regarding it as the best salutation to the cricketer.

     

    The series along with the 360-degree marketing campaign launched around it has made the Star Sports brand really big. Its campaigning involved interesting programming, innovative production, disruptive marketing to add buzz around the maestro’s farewell series. The network also launched three high quality programs to engage deeper with the cricket fans.

     

    Besides, a distinctive “Cheer for Sachin” campaign featuring stars from Bollywood, cricket and television stars calling Sachin fans to cheer ‘Sachin Sachin’ was also popular. Many other on-ground activities were also initiated to make the test series memorable for fans who came together to watch the maestro in action.

     

    Star India head of sports business Nitin Kukreja said, “We are delighted with the ratings. We are humbled that maestro’s farewell series was played on our network and wanted to give him a befitting farewell. I am happy to note that cricket fans have appreciated our efforts. Our strategic investment in the Hindi language feed over the past year or so is now paying us huge dividends. We will continue in our endeavor to promote sports culture in the country.”

  • Zee Business consistently remains the No.1 Business Channel in India

    Zee Business consistently remains the No.1 Business Channel in India

    NEW DELHI: Zee Business, the business channel from Zee Media Corporation Ltd. continues its trend of being the No. 1 business channel has proved that it is the most preferred business channel in India and has been a resounding hit. As per the latest TAM data, the channel is No. 1 in terms of viewership, leaving behind the competition.

    India’s first 24 hour Hindi business channel, Zee Business has emerged as the nation’s preferred source of business news amongst all English & Hindi business channels. Zee Business tops the charts with highest GTVT’000 of 1901 (Source: TAM, TG: CS 25+ Male ABC, Market: HSM, Period: wk 45 ’13), which is even higher than all English business channels put together.

    Going by its philosophy “Aapka Faayda”, the channel strikes right balance with national and international business news. Zee Business give a complete and comprehensive update about the markets to its viewers, and takes credit in expanding the viewership for business channels beyond the stock market trading hours with an aggressive evening programming and a varied weekend line-up.

    Alok Agarwal, CEO Zee Media Corporation Ltd said, “We are glad that our viewers have put us in No. 1 again which shows our efforts have been accepted and rewarded by them. We will keep on trying to provide them best content in the future as well.”

    Samir Ahluwalia, Editor, Zee Business said, “We are thankful to our educated and empowered viewers for making us no. 1. We promise to deliver better programming mix and content which will be successful in educating & empowering the viewers. It has been our constant endeavor to deliver relevant and useful content to the viewers on a daily basis, and this is the reason why we have been preferred over the competition”.

    About Zee Business

    Zee Business, was conceived to offer ‘information’ and ‘insight’ and bring business and economy coverage to the viewers in their own language. It is the channel to profit and wealth and strives to create an entrepreneurial climate in the country that can help stimulate innovation and drive economic growth. ZEE BUSINESS continuously strives to empower viewers on smart decision-making related to investments, savings and spending. It endeavors to meet the highest standards of editorial excellence and always make its content relevant to the work and lives of its viewers.

  • Star Plus regains its number one spot in Week 44: TAM Ratings

    Star Plus regains its number one spot in Week 44: TAM Ratings

    MUMBAI: The Badshah of Bollywood lifted Zee TV to the number one mark last week but it seems the magic that Chennai Express created for the channel lost its sheen very soon as it is back to its usual spot — number three — in the Week 44 of TAM ratings.

    Star Plus is again leading the chart with 486,066 GVTs (492,849); while Colors at number two is the highest gainer with 463,778 GVTs (423,584). Zee TV, which is back to its usual slot, garnered 434,987 GVTs as compared to 505,442 GVTs last week. Sab is at number four with 337,099 GVTs (331,674) followed by Life OK with 323,897 GVTs (334,635). Sony maintains its sixth position with 299,964 GVTs (281,638). Sahara One continues to be at the bottom with 31,647 GVTs (36,323).

    The number one channel this week, Star Plus witnessed few changes as the ratings of its show, Pyar Ka Dard Hai notched up this time. It generated 7,752 TVTs compared to 7,178 last week. Star’s popular show, Diya aur Baati Hum scored 10,155 TVTs (10,367), Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai registered 6,986 TVTs (7,347), Saathiya too witnessed a slight rise and registered 7,509 TVTs (7,474), while the epic series, Mahabharat witnessed a drop and rated 5,041 TVTs (5,530). Saraswati Chandra seems to be at a stable position with 5,111 TVTs (5,170).

    There are few surprises for the second in the rank, Colors’ as well. Its longest running fiction series, Balika Vadhu saw a drop in its ratings and generated 7,080 TVTs (7,735), Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon scored 4,441 TVTs (4,305). Uttaran fared well and took its tally to 4,299 TVTs (3,722). Even the popular, Comedy Nights with Kapil witnessed a huge rise with 6,631 TVTs (5,250). The much hyped adaptation of the international 24 starring Anil Kapoor witnessed a drop and registered 2,755 TVTs (3,050). And the celebrity reality show, Bigg Boss seems to be riding high with all the cat-fights and controversies going on in the house. The show’s ratings witnessed a decent raise. It registered 5,024 TVTs compared to 4,587 last week.

    Zee TV that came down to its third spot after creating a furor last week too saw a major rise in its fictional offering Qubool Hai. The show scored 5,625 TVTs (4,998). Pavitra Rishta generated 4,235 TVTs (4,419). The ratings of Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke also improved with 5,152 TVTs (4,843). Period drama Jodha Akbar noted 8,101 TVTs (8,299), while drama series, Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se registered 4,870 TVTs (4,412). The recently launched sitcom Bh se Bhade generated 2,139 TVTs (2,856). Zee TV’s popular dance reality show Dance India Dance – 4 doesn’t seem to be working wonders for the channel as its score dropped drastically to 3,854 TVTs (6,075) on Saturday, but it picked up again on Sunday with 6519 TVTs.

    Fourth placed, Sab’s fiction show, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah continues to lead among all its other shows with 7,637 TVTs (8,161). Chidiya Ghar saw a drop and generated 3,645 TVTs (3,852). Lapataganj generated 2,354 TVTs (2,217) and Baalveer registered 2,391 TVTs (2,904). The channel aired a special Diwali show Sab ki Diwali Mela on 1 November generating 4,064 TVTs. It was a roller-coaster ride for other fiction shows as well.

    Life OK on number five continues to lead with its mythological series Mahadev. The show seems to be a favourite among the viewers as it scored 4,183 TVTs (3,759). Do Dil Ek Jaan generated at 1,526 TVTs (1,719), while crime-based Savdhan India rated 2,509 TVTs (2,577). Shapath generated 3,172 TVTs (3,699) and Ek Boond Ishq registered 2,620 TVTs (2,749). Reality series The Bachelorette India managed to stay stable with 2,073 TVTs (2,052).

    Sony, which is at number six, witnessed a drop in ratings — 4,317 TVTs (5,009) — for its longest running crime series CID. Crime Patrol managed to register 3,818 TVTs (3,947). The channel’s historical show Maharana Pratap managed remained at a stable position with 2,771 TVTs (2,772), while quiz show KBC witnessed a drop and garnered just 2,436 TVTs (3,570). The channel premiered the biggest blockbuster of the year Yeh Jawani hai Deewani on 27 October and scored 6,995 TVTs. Other fiction shows either held on to their viewership or dipped marginally during the week.

    In the movie channel genre, Zee Cinema reported 210,728 GVTs (195,223); Star Gold witnessed a fall and registered 175,245 GVTs (190,414) and Movies OK scored 120,183 GVTs (124,887). On the other hand, &pictures garnered 57,589 GVTs (67,725), Zee Anmol registered 50,827 GVTs (52,731) and Max scored 182,588 GVTs (198,492).

    While there has been some major shake-up in the last two weeks, let’s see what’s in store for the channels in the coming weeks.

  • AajTak bags the Best News Channel Award at the ITA Awards, 13th year in a row

    AajTak bags the Best News Channel Award at the ITA Awards, 13th year in a row

    MUMBAI: The undisputed leader in News Television, AajTak won the Best Hindi News Channel Award at the Indian Television Academy Awards 2013. This is the 13th year in a row that the channel has won the top honour at the prestigious ceremony.

    Commenting on the milestone, Mr.AroonPurie, Chairman and Editor in Chief, India Today Group said, “I congratulate the entire team of AajTak on winning the ITA, 13 years in a row. I’m glad not just for the leadership position enjoyed by AajTak but also the trust that our viewers place on us. The award highlights the team???s unwavering commitment towards unbiased journalism without fear or favor and the fact that Aajtak is untiringly living upto its promise of being SabseTez”

    Mr. Ashish Bagga, Group CEO India today Group added, The award is symbolic of the nation’s unshakeable faith in the Aajtak team. The channel’s coverage on issues ranging from the cloudburst in Uttarakhand, the Delhi Gang Rape verdict, elections programming and lately, the Cyclone Phailin hitting our country- has been exceptional. We are delighted by the ITA’s recognition of these efforts”. Known for its viewer friendly style of presentation and unmatched credibility, the channel continues to raise the bar in news delivery. The channel has been setting the news agenda for the country since its inception becoming the most preferred platform for 13 years in a row. According to the Indian Readership Survey (Q412 Individual, CS, All India) – AajTak leads the ranking in the News space with an impressive reach of 65.7 Mn, which is more than 6 times reach of its nearest competitor with a meagre 10.7 Mn. The story is no different in the ratings as per TAM, where AajTak holds the leadership position among Hindi News Channels with an average market share of 19.0% (TAM, All India, CS 15+, Wk 1-41 2013) with a consistently substantive margin over the other players.

    While AajTak took home the laurels in the Hindi News space, Headlines Today, the English News sister channel from the TV Today Network won Awards for Best anchor-Rahul Kanwal for Centre Stage, Best film and music based show- Shyaam talkies and Best documentary-Ballot Trail karnataka.

  • Soon: Care World TV online

    Soon: Care World TV online

    MUMBAI: Post Diwali, six-year-old health and fitness television channel – Care World TV – is expected to go LIVE on its website http://www.careworldtv.com. In so doing, it will become the first global health care TV channel to be simultaneously available online and offline.

     

    Currently in the testing phase of simulcasting its television content on its website, Care World TV is looking to expand audience reach with this initiative. Care World TV managing director Ajit Gupta exults: “With this initiative, we become the first global health care television channel to be simultaneously available both online and offline.”

     

    The channel has already started getting response from countries like Spain, according to ABS 7 Star CMD Atul Saraf, who says: “Even though we haven’t made it LIVE yet, and are still in the testing phase, anyone who comes to our website for information on health or contact details of doctors etc. can see the simulcast of the channel. We are already getting good response from people based in different parts of the world.”

     

    With the simulcast, Care World TV hopes to reach out to a travelling audience as well as the many Indians settled across the globe.

     

    Simulcast apart, the channel is also developing an app to further connect with its audiences to be launched by November. “The app will be ready by month-end. We will then test the app and so, it should be available for free download by November. It will be available on Android and iOS first. We will further expand to other operating systems like Windows,” says Saraf.

     

    According to Gupta: “The app will have an eye-catching interface, with easy functionality, and will cater to the premium market segment.”

     

    Available for free download, the app can be used even if one has slow internet connectivity. “We have put the content on a very low bit rate and so, a person can watch it even with a 256 or 512 mbps internet connection speed,” informs Saraf.

     

    So is the channel looking at monetising its website content? “Well! We haven’t thought of it currently, but we may in future, we are not ruling out the opportunity,” replies Saraf.

     

    TAM weekly TV ratings reveal that Care World TV reaches four to five million viewers every week. “The channel has bridged the gap between functionaries and beneficiaries. With a 24×7 presence on television and now also on the web, the channel provides various formats of programming that include awareness segments, talking heads, panel discussions, in-depth reports, presentations, infomercials, audio visuals, documentaries, bulletins, campaigns etc, in both fiction and non-fiction formats,” says Gupta.

     

    While the channel has taken a bold step in an internet-driven world, only time will tell if the move will help expand its viewer base or eat into its existing television viewership?

  • Is crime genre the fuel running Sony?

    Is crime genre the fuel running Sony?

    MUMBAI: Once upon a time, it ruled the roost but a look at recent TAM ratings tells another story. Why is it that a pioneer like Sony is currently languishing among the bottom three GECs? According to media experts, the answer lies in the kind of content the channel is airing.

     

    A majority of them feel fiction is critical to a GEC, which is exactly what Sony lacks. “Without focusing on any fiction-based shows, a GEC cannot survive. In other words, daily soap operas are the bread and butter for a GEC,” says a producer who didn’t wish to be named.

     

    Yes, Sony had hit shows like Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin and Boogie Woogie (reality) but that’s in the past. Over the last couple of years, the channel has failed to gain traction as far as fiction is concerned.

     

    Many may counter this saying Sony has two shows which can beat fiction-based ones by a huge margin: Crime Patrol and CID. The duo is among the channel’s longest running shows. To give statistics, CID garnered 7,048 TVTs in week 40 of TAM TV ratings while Crime Petrol registered 3,882 TVTs.

     

    Says BPN (Brand Programming Network) CEO Suresh Balakrishna: “CID and Crime Petrol have been airing for years and it won’t be wrong to say that the shows own this genre. A viewer expects to see crime shows on Sony, they have owned that genre and nobody has got into the genre the way the channel has.”

     

    Some experts agree that the way Star Plus is known for its fictional shows and Colors for its reality shows, viewers tend to expect crime from Sony. Others feel to focus on one particular genre, say crime, can definitely give the channel the required padding but GECs’ bread and butter is fiction shows.

     

    “I think the biggest problem that Sony is facing is to do with its image. It has never had fiction which has done well whereas non-fiction has worked brilliantly for the channel. Ideally, they should go back to the old model of non-fiction,” suggests a city-based media planner, adding: “It is not suffering as far as distribution is concerned or marketing is. The problem lies in the content. If it changes the content mix, the channel will definitely be able to garner better GVTs. But of course, that would mean investing a lot of time, ideas and energy. But if they invest, then it may work out.”

     

    Focusing on the content, planners state the example of Channel V which changed its strategy from being music to a fiction. Correspondingly, Sab TV till six years back had a mix bag of shows whereas now it is known for its comedy shows.

     

    However, a soap opera director begs to differ: “Sony has done lot of experiments. And I am getting a positive feeling for Desh ki Beti…Nandini and I think it will be able to click with the audience.” Yet, he is quick to point out that the channel hasn’t done anything like Jassi in a long time and even Bade Achche Lagte Hai isn’t working anymore.

     

    Says Sunshine Productions’ Sudhir Sharma: “Sony is known for semi-urban sensibilities shows such as Jassi and Bade Achche Lage Hai and in this space, the channel must explore. It will be good for them.”

     

    The channel is betting big on the recently launched Kaun Banega Crorepati 7 but TAM ratings haven’t been too encouraging. Whether Sony should get its act together on fiction shows or continue to concentrate on non-fiction (crime) is something the channel will have to work out.

     

    In the meantime, the recent revamp and maybe Boogie Woogie, which is returning to the channel after a decade-long gap, may just help Sony get its groove back…