Intense drama does the trick for Des Mein

To say that television programming is about arresting falling TVRs, especially in the case of soaps, wouldn't be misplaced at all. Daily or weekly shows depend on an infusion of audiences and any indication to the contrary immediately sets off the panic button. STAR Plus' 9.00-pm show, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, for instance, saw a similar decline over the last few weeks, going beyond the Top 10 into the Top 20. But in week 41, that is, between October 5 to 11, the show was back in the Top 10, precisely at No 3 with a score of 10 (Source: TAM Media Research; base population: C&S 4+, All India).

For avid watchers, this would come as no surprise because the show has seen some intense drama of late, with the protagonists Pammi and a new-look Dev, who is now known as Raj, set for a second innings together. Indeed, the build-up has been on for a while, but what complicates matters is the fact that Pammi is married to Dr Rohan and Raj has the tenacious Anu in pursuit, despite being married to Pammi's brother, Sam.

If that is one helluva situation, albeit only on reel and not in real, on the ratings chart, it has meant the onset of good tidings for a show, which stood at No 11 in week 40, that is, September 28 to October 4, with a score of 9.4. The week before, that is, September 21 to 27, Des Mein was at No 14 with a score of 8.4.

The last time that Des Mein figured among the Top 10 was in week 36, that is, August 31 to September 6, when the show was at the fifth spot with a TVR of 9.2. In the weeks preceding that, Des Mein enjoyed scores of 10.3 (No 10 in week 35), 9.5 (No 4 in week 34), 9.3 (No 4 in week 33), 11.1 (No 2 in week 32), 9.5 (No 9 in week 31) and 10.3 (No 8 in week 30).

If Des Mein seems to have arrested its fall in week 41, for the others in the Top 100, it is business as usual with the K-brigade occupying the Top 10, beginning with Kahaani at 10.3, followed by Kyunki at 10.2, Des Mein, of course, at 10 and Kasautii at 9.9. From Nos 5 to 10, it is Kyunki at 9.8, Kahaani at 9.7, Kasautii at 9.6, Kyunki again at 9.4 and Kasautii at 9.2.

In all, STAR Plus has an overall tally of 66 to Sony Entertainment Television's 10 in the TAM 100 in week 41. For Sony, the leader in week 41 is social thriller Devi, telecast at 9.00 pm on Fridays. This show enjoys a TVR of 3.8, followed by the recently launched daily Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin with 3.3, 3.1 and 2.8. Next in line is CID with a TVR of 2.7 followed by Balaji's Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat with 2.6 and 2.3 and Kkusum with 2.5.

The India-New Zealand Test series ensured that DD Sports was also in the Top 100 in week 41 with the day's play on October 9 featuring twice with 2.5 and 2.3, and that of October 11 with 2.4.

SUN TV and Gemini TV are the usual suspects from down south with the overall tally reading SUN 18 to Gemini's three.

For SUN, daily soaps Metty Oli and Annamalai are the leaders with scores of 4.5 and 3.9, while Gemini has Telugu feature film Murari and daily soap Ninne Pilladata with 2.7 and 2.3. © 2003 agencyfaqs!