Does Khullja Sim Sim mark the resurgence of game shows on television?

Was Kaun Banega Crorepati the beginning and the end of the game show genre on Indian television?

Channels such as Sony and ZEE tired desperately to replicate the success of KBC on STAR Plus with shows like Jeeto Chappar Phad Ke (Sony) and Sawal Dus Crore Ka (ZEE). We all know what happened to these shows. While they opened amid a lot of hoopla and looked promising for the first few episodes, the TVRs came crashing down soon thereafter. Even KBC began showing signs of fatigue after a year or so, as reflected by the slow (though marginal) slide of the programme's ratings.

While the topsy turvy ride of television game shows has a lot to do with the temperament of the Indian viewer, producers are hopeful of cracking that elusive right formula that may, once and for all, give this genre its rightful place on Indian television. Does the clue lie in Khullja Sim Sim, which, for the past two years, has managed to capture the imagination of the Indian viewer? "Months after Khullja Sim Sim was launched the programme continued to notch excellent ratings," says STAR's spokesperson. Two years on, TVRs of Khullja Sim Sim range between 4.2 and 6.1, having shot to 7.8 (TAM C&S Households, July 6, 2003 to July 12, 2003) only a month back. In the meanwhile, other channels are also trying their hand at game shows, but without much success.

Looking at the consistency in the ratings of Khullja Sim Sim (the TVR for Khullja Sim Sim for the week July 27, 2003 to August 2, 2003, is 5.2) media observers pronounce the show as the only successful game show on television today. In fact, Khullja Sim Sim has been the only game show on C&S Top 50 for the past several months.

There are other game shows on air currently, such as, Kiss Mein Kitna Hai Dum (STAR Plus), Khel Khel Mein (DD), Ready Steady Go (DD), Meet The Champ (DD), but they yet have to make their presence felt on the TAM Top 100.

However, when it comes to daily soaps, fierce battles for recall are fought every week on STAR Plus, as is reflected in the TAM ratings. Here is a look at the Top 10 programmes for the week, July 27, 2003 to August 2, 2003. Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki (which has four entries in the Top 10) occupied the top slot with a TVR of 10.9 (July 28), followed by Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (which also had four entries with the lead being 10.3 on July 28), Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand at No 8 (TVR 9.5 on July 28) and Kasautii Zindagii Kay (No 10), which recorded a TVR of 9.3 on July 28, 2003.

While the Top 29 entries in the TAM C&S 100 were from STAR Plus, Sony's Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat with a TVR of 4.4 made it to the hallowed list at No 30 and Metty Oli of Sun TV climbed up five notches (in the previous week Metty Oli was ranked at 40), to settle at number 35.

© 2003 agencyfaqs!