Not really bossing over the ratings

Sony Entertainment Television’s mega reality series, ‘Bigg Boss’, which got fairly good ratings when it opened, failed to consolidate its success because of which its popularity began to decline towards the end

The much-discussed reality soap, ‘Bigg Boss’, on Sony Entertainment Television (SET), came to an end on January 27. It was a heavyweight ending as one of the contestants took home a handsome Rs 50 lakh for having withstood an ordeal that spanned three months. SET must also have taken home heavy suitcases, courtesy sponsors such as Garnier Fructis, Neutrogena and HLL. But if the TRPs are to be considered, the programme did not make much noise.

‘Bigg Boss’ ended on a sad TRP of 1.3 and reached 4.7 million viewers, according to aMap data for C&S, 4+, north, west and east India. In fact, as per aMap, the highest TRP that the show recorded since its inception was 1.8 on December 27, 2006.

In the last week, when the final drama was unfolding on ‘Bigg Boss’, other programmes ruled television sets. ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ was the most viewed with a TRP of 5.3, followed by legendary soaps ‘Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki’ with a TRP of 4.9 and ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ at 4.7 and then the India-West Indies match at 4.1.

In the initial days of its airing, ‘Bigg Boss’ garnered a considerable following among viewers in Mumbai and Delhi. As per TAM figures for C&S 4+, HSM, in Mumbai, specifically, it recorded a rating of 4.15, while in Delhi alone, it was 3.78.

Albert Almeida, business head, SET, is overwhelmed by the response to the show and believes that the channel is proud to have come up with such a ‘path-breaking’ show.

About the figures that do not support his opinion, Almeida says, “The concept was new and we accept that it did not go well with the masses as compared to the discerning audience, which was more than eager to watch something different.”

Almeida is optimistic that the second season of the show might throw up better figures than this one because now, the audience is familiar with the concept. The channel is considering a second season of the reality show, but when it will beam it could not be ascertained. Meanwhile, SET is all set to roll out the third season of ‘Indian Idol’.

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