STAR Plus' Aap Ki Kachcheri - Kiran Ke Saath closes season one on a high note

Media News

Mumbai, March 12, 2009

STAR Plus today celebrated the unprecedented success of its show Aap Ki Kachcheri -Kiran Ke Saath with a live panel discussion on how the show has initiated a social movement in the country. Aap Ki Kachehri, with Dr.Kiran Bedi as the anchor and arbitrator, found immediate acceptance among audiences as it climbed the ratings chart within weeks of its launch, becoming the most successful show launch of 2008, and the leader in its slot among the Hindi general entertainment channels. The show comes as a fresh breath of reality with real faces, real cases and genuine resolutions, building a case for proliferation of lok adalats in the country and an alternate system to redress disputes.

The relevance of the program lies in the fact that it has changed the perception of television as an 'idiot box' and viewers as passive couch potatoes. The program seeks to bring about social change through content which is more inclusive, relevant and democratic, making viewers from all strata of society a part of an important process of social transformation. As the show comes to the close of Season One, it has solved 67 cases, and in just nine weeks of 2009, has reached out to 70.7 million viewers in the Hindi Speaking Markets across originals and repeats.

Season One of Aap Ki Kachcheri-Kiran Ke Saath is now coming to a close on March 14, 2009, to prepare ground for a bigger and grander opening for Season Two. Speaking on this announcement, Uday Shankar, CEO STAR India Private Limited, said, "Hindi general entertainment viewers in India have endorsed our belief that a show like Aap Ki Kachehri is the need of the hour – a show that genuinely addresses the issue of social transformation and suggests an alternate dispute redressal system for family and community disputes. For STAR India, it was a huge risk to put a show like Aap Ki Kachehri on prime time on STAR Plus, but its overwhelming success has given us the confidence to take it to a different level altogether." "Season Two of Aap Ki Kachehri will travel across the country and take an untrodden path for any TV channel ever. The show will travel across various cities, mohallas and gullies to reach out to viewers without waiting for them to come to us, and make that essential difference", he added.

Dr. Kiran Bedi, said, "I am overwhelmed with the trust that people put into my judgement and I hope and pray I have been able to make their lives happier and peaceful. This short break between two seasons of Aap Ki Kachehri will give us the time to reach out to more people and show them a new way of life and living."

Along with the launch of an Helpline number, in 2009, Aap Ki Kachehri has also performed very well in the markets of Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh & Bihar delivering a 6 rating in these markets.

Now, Season Two promises STAR Plus viewers compelling content with cases coming from across the country. Aap Ki Kachehri will create apni-adalats in various cities in India taking an alternate system of solving disputes to many more people, changing attitudes, altering deeply held beliefs, educating and empowering and bringing about a positive change in people’s lives.

* In the year 2009. Aap ki kacheri has reached out to 70.7 million viewers in the HSM markets across originals and repeats in 9 weeks

* AKK performs extremely well in the markets of Delhi, Gujarat, MP and Bihar

- Delhi: In 12 weeks out of 13 post launch, the show has delivered a 6+ rating in the Delhi market

- Bihar 1 Mn+: In week 9’09, the show touched a 5 rating in the Bihar market

- MP .1 to 1 Mn: In weeks 52’08,1’09,5’09,7’09 the show crossed the 6 rating mark in the MP .1 to 1 Mn market

- Guj .1 to 1 Mn: While the show on an average has delivered a 5.2 TVR in the Guj .1 to 1 Mn (2009) , in week 5’09 the show touched a 6 rating in this market

For further information, please contact:

Vaishnavi Corporate Communications

Poonam Nikam

Tel: 022 65568787

Email: Poonam@vccpl.com