TV this week: Zee gains in week 48; distribution harms Sony and SAB TV

The pecking order of the six topmost GEC’s remain the same in week 48 of TAM 2013. Zee TV has been the only channel to gain viewership this week. While Star Plus still at no.1 saw a dip in its ratings, it is interesting to note that the channel has touched a three and half year high and Mahabharat and Veera on the channel has helped precipitate this growth. The channel has also widened the gap with Colors which lost viewership but has retained its no.2 position. While Life OK has remained steady in the 4th position the numbers of SAB and Sony have been affected apparently due to the ongoing distribution problems this week as per TVT data sourced from TAM subscribers for Week 48 ( November24- November 30) for CS 4+, HSM markets. All in all, most of the GECs witnessed a drop in its ratings and this could be attributed to audiences being distracted by news channels which was the focal point of attention for most  this week.

GVT’s recorded by the Hindi GECs indicate the following scores this week: Star Plus which leads among the GECs has witnessed a huge dip in viewership and garnered 548,331 GVTs (560,497). Colors in the 2nd position too lost substantially to record a score of 478,534 GVTs (513,415). Zee TV on the other hand gained viewership this week and has recorded 448,553 GVTs (433,447) and has stabilized its position in the 3rd spot. With a slight dip in viewership Life OK remains steady in 4th position with the channel registering a score of 334,327 GVTs (335,013). SAB TV still in the 5th spot, with a decrease in its ratings, has recorded 269,269 GVTs (308,133). Meanwhile Sony ratings dropped further to record a score of 238,987 GVTs (269,332) and the channel remains rooted at the 6th spot. Although Sahara One gained viewership and registered a score of 33,691 GVTs (30,429) no change is seen in its position as it remains at the bottom of the chart.

The overall fall can be attributed to activities like the assembly polls, the shift in viewership for the channels and with broadcasters filing notices against the MSOs for non-compliance. Multi Screen Media (MSM) GEC’s have had to face the brunt of the tiff between MSM Discovery and Multi-System Operates (MSO’s). A notice from Discovery India-MSM joint venture One Alliance (the company which distributes MSM’s channels like Sony Entertainment and SAB TV) to DEN Networks for its Delhi operations. Sources have said that, the MSO’s DEN Networks and Hathway had either displaced or switched off MSM’s channels in a few markets, thus resulting in the GEC’s recording all time low numbers.
Now coming to the most watched shows on the GECs following are the latest ratings of the various shows channel wise:

The most popular show on Star Plus in the prime time slot, Diya aur Baati Hum seemed to have lost viewers as it registered 11,449 TVTs (12,298). Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai too saw an increase as it registered 7329 TVTs (7,863). Pyar Ka Dard Hai lost marginally as it registered 6661 TVTs (7,351) while the most watched Saath Nibhana Saathiya made up for the former’s loss as it saw a remarkable rise in its ratings and recorded 8683 TVTs (8,290). The epic series Mahabharata has notched up this week and  garnered 7170 TVTs (6,835)  and this week ratings of  Saraswati Chandra too notched up to register a score of  5367 TVTs (5,071). A drop in viewership is evident as Nach Baliye Season 6  recorded  4,267 TVTs(4,736)  in week 48.

The popularity of reality show Bigg Boss 7 on Colors seems to be diminishing as it registered  5102 TVTs (5,491) while long running series Balika Vadhu ratings decreased this week to record 6513 TVTs (6,684). Meanwhile with a marginal drop in viewership  Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon recorded  4329  TVTs (4,749).  The change in the track of the story in Uttaran has helped the longest running serial to register a score of 4031 TVTs as against 3645 TVTs last week and widely watched show Comedy Nights with Kapil ratings took a sharp plunge  as it recorded 7851 TVTs (8,464).  The thriller series ‘24’, on the channel has failed to impress audiences as the show has registered 2797 TVTs (3,058) this week.

Zee TV’s period drama Jodha Akbar has notched up exceptionally well  to record a score of 10,182 TVTs (9,801) while the fictional series Qubool Hai picked up marginally to record  5,862 TVTs (5,830). Pavitra Rishta ratings too increased to register a score of 5,468 TVTs (5,043).  Drama series Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se too followed suit and registered 5,369 TVTs (5,019).  The recently launched dance show DID 4 lost eyeballs and registered 4,392 TVTs (4,856) on Saturday and 4,254 TVTs (4,476) on Sunday thus indicating a dip in the ratings of the reality show. The new sitcom on the channel Bh se Bhade picked up viewership as it registered 2,079 TVTs (1,650).

The popular mythological series Mahadev on Life OK has not seen much change in its ratings as it recorded 3,312 TVTs (3,212) in week 48. Viewership of Do Dil Ek Jaan remained stable as it registered a score of 1,491 TVTs (1,494). The other offerings on the channel, namely, Savdhan India with not much change in its ratings registered a score of 3024 TVTs (3,035) and Shapath, witnessed a huge slump in its ratings and registered 3,055 TVTs (4,057). Meanwhile among the new shows on the channel, the ratings of Ek Boond Ishq remained stable as it recorded  2,833  TVTs (2,834) this week. Tumhari Paakhi on the channel has impressed viewers thus recording  2,183 TVTs (1,877).

Fiction comedy show on SAB TV, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has plunged this week to record a score of 7,647 TVTs (8,856). Chidiya Ghar too lost substantially and   recorded 2,935 TVTs (3,479). The ratings of Lapataganj on the channel dipped to register  1769 TVTs (1,921)  and same can be said about Baalveer which lost viewership  to register 2643 TVTs (3,293) thus indicating an overall drop in the ratings of most shows on the channel  this week.

The long running crime series CID on Sony Entertainment Television normally a favourite with viewers lost eyeballs and recorded a score of 4600 TVTs (5,254)  this week.  Crime Patrol too lost viewership and registered a score of  2964 TVTs (3,255).  Same can be said about historical offering Maharana Pratap on the channel which saw a dip in its ratings and registered 2733 TVTs (3,054)  while  ratings of  KBC on the channel is of late seeing a downslide and has recorded 2778 TVTs (3,248). The new horror flick Bhoot Aaya on the channel has failed to attract viewership as it registered 1423 TVTs as against last week’s score of 1,662 TVTs  in week 48 of TAM.

The movie channels genre recorded the following GVTs this week: Zee Cinema witnessed a commendable surge in viewership and garnered 253,575 GVTs (197,512), Star Gold ratings do not differ much from last week’s ratings with 181,167 GVTs (178,122). Movies OK too saw a drop in viewership to record 133,805 GVTs (127,470). In contrast to last weeks’ ratings of movie channel &pictures this week saw a steep downslide thus recording 81,291 GVTs (112,609) for the channel. Zee Anmol ratings increased considerably and registered 55,524 GVTs (46,088) while movie channel Max lost points resulting in a steep fall in its ratings and registered  a score of 129,948  GVTs (200,508)  as per data recorded  in week 48 of TAM, 2013.