TRPs does not give the true picture - article

Fuze got in touch with Gaurav Laghate - Senior Correspondent at Indiantelevision.com, the leading trade website on Media and Entertainment industry. To tell us about Indian television as per his experience.

1- Indian television in the last ten years has increased popularity dramatically on a global level, what's your view on that and what do you think has changed?
A lot of things have changed with competition. The ideas, scripts, and quality of production, etc has seen a whole new serious and professional approach. You can say that indian television is coming of age.

2- Looking at which the shows work, what is the most important element for any show to be popular today? (daily soaps and reality shows)
For any show, fiction or reality, the two major components are content and distribution on the platform. Same show on Star Plus will rate more than on a Sahara. After that, the right marketing plays a pivotal role.

3- TRPs are very important. However don't you think since its reaching outside India, that its unfair for the rating only limited within India?

TRPs are the most abused currency in India. A) it is an inadequate system as it does not give the true picture. Moreover, these are for advertisers to quantify ad rates. As in overseas markets, the same ads are not there, so I see no reason to why it is unfair.
In markets like US, UK, there are different agencies which do the same work.

4- Recently a liplock was shown in ( Bade Achche Lagte Hain), Is Indian television facing a new phase or is the censor-board now going to be more careful regarding it?That scene on the show was a tactical move from the channel's point as to attract more eyeballs. Moreover, there is actually no censor for TV and IBF (Indian Broadcasting Foundation) has come up with self regulation mechanism, which these channels adhere to.

5- What are the most important things which make any actor work or jodi work?

I can not answer this question as sometimes even programmers fail to understand the viewers' mindsets. Having said that, good acting, right timing, chemistry and dialogues should.

6- Share an experience on what is a good TV for whole family?

For whole family, shows like KBC or a channel like Pogo is safest bet today.

Reporter and author: Zainab

Editor: Hina

http://fuzionproductions.com/index.php/all-news/indian-television/item/305-trps-does-not-give-the-true-picture-gaurav-laghate

I am not sure if this applies to HD too but I would like to believe that TRPs should not be the all deciding factor always...