GEC Watch: Top four Hindi GECs gain eyeballs in Week 38 of TAM

Week 38 of TAM saw the launch of two big properties on Indian television in the Hindi GEC space. While the first was Colors' Bigg Boss that debuted its seventh season with 7711 TVTs on September 15, the second was Star Plus' mythology 'Mahabharat' that opened with 8445 TVTs on September 16.

Star Plus, the flagship Hindi general entertainment channel from the STAR India stable, continues to lead the genre with 534590 GVTs in Week 38 as compared to 477029 GVTs in the previous week. Four of the shows of Star Plus featured in the top 10 shows' list. The channel launched Mahabharat, which replaced EK Hazaron Mein Meri Behna Hai. The slot saw a growth in viewership from 2965 GVTs to 6356 GVTs.

Talking about Mahabharat's grand opening, Nikhil Madhok, senior vice-president, marketing, Star Plus, says, "We are extremely happy with the grand welcome it has received. There is very encouraging positive feedback pouring in from all quarters. We are now looking at building further from here on."

As per TAM data (HSM, 4+, C&S, including LC1 markets) provided by a TAM subscriber, Colors took the second spot with 479892 GVTs, 16023GVTs more from Week 37. Two of the shows of Colors appeared in the top shows' chart. The channel launched Bigg Boss Season 7 that rated an average of 5080 GVTs (Monday -Saturday).

Zee TV held on to the third spot with an addition of 14714 GVTs to register 413707 GVTs. Its successful show Jodha Akbar was one of the most watched shows in this week.

At No.4 is Sony with 327089 GVTs (last week 292852). One of its shows featured in top 10 list. Kaun Banega Crorepati registered 6134 GVTs (last week 5925).

SAB, the second rung Hindi GEC from Multi Screen Media, lost 22582 GVTs to record 289471 GVTs. One of its shows witnessed top viewership. Meanwhile, Life OK rated 313138 GVTs (last week 322364).

Sahara One, with 26495 GVTs (last week 28749) remained at the bottom of the ladder.

Star Plus' Diyaa Aur Baati Hum continued to be the most watched show on Hindi GECs with average TVT of 9819 TVTs (last week 8803). This is followed by Zee TV's Jodha Akbar that fetched 8025 TVTs (last week 6981).

At No.3 is Bigg Boss' premiere night on September 15 that aired for three hours and rated 7711 TVTs. Next is Star Plus' Pyaar Ka Dard with 7342 TVTs (6930 last week) and SAB's Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma with 7276 TVTs (last week 6816). It is followed by Colors' Comedy Nights with Kapil that garnered 7244 TVTs (last week 7215).

The seventh spot is occupied by Star Plus' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai that clocked 6587 TVTs (last week 6144). Colors' Balika Vadhu got 6551 TVT (previous week 6278). The last two spots on the top 10 shows' ladder are occupied by Star Plus' Saath Nibhana Saathiya and Mahabharat that rated 6456 TVTs (last week 6002) and 6356 TVTs, respectively.

For the record, TVT is television viewership in 1000s (TVR in 1000). It is the average number of individuals in '000s that are available at any given minute of a programme/day part that is under consideration. It captures growth in TV audiences in the country in absolute numbers. The TVR system, in contrast, works on percentages.