So we have all been wondering this week what makes Colors so meherbaan on LTL. Toh phir der kis baat ki? Aaiye aur jaaniye the REAL reason behind us getting a Saturday special. All this from my special khabru-the fly on the wall of the office of the Big Fish from now on referrred to as BF.
BF is well a big fish in Colors. He had been receiving recently lots of mails from LTL fans thus increasing the work of his assitant who had to sift thru his mails. Due to this increased work his assitant had started demanding a raise. The big fish ofcourse didnt like that so decided to get to the root cause of the problem. He called a meeting between his deputy Medium Fish(MF) and MF's deputy Small Fish(SF).
At BF's office-
SF is rushes into BF's office for the meeting. BF and his immediate boss MF are already there. BF asks him to sit.
BF: I am receiving several complaints from LTL fans that their show is being ignored by our channel.
MF: Sir me too! Silly guys! They should complain to Sony over that!
BF: But why should they complain to Sony?
MF: The show airs on Sony thats why Sir!
BF: But it airs on Colors! Dont you know that?
MF: But sir how can it air on Colors? Its not rural themed and nor does it have an aggressive woman protagonist whom everyone is scared of.
BF: MF LTL DOES air on Colors. Yes its not exactly as per the DNA of our channel.
MF looks embarrassed.
MF: Err...when I used to see the ratings chart I thought the ratings guys made mistakes on the channel name. You know once they put Yeh Rishta in Colors. Can you imagine that!
BF(irritated): So do you know which show airs at 830pm on Colors?
MF: Why sir its Bairi Piya.
BF: Oh God! Please go to our website and check the schedule.
MF: Ok sir...let me check on my mobile.
SF deciding to speak up now that MF is on a backfoot: Sirs I hope you have noticed I have tried rectify the DNA issue. Now we have a protagonist who will soon become a lady don. Have you ever seen that on television sir? A female don protagonist!
BF: But SF viewers of LTL prefer the male don. Turning the female protagonist may not exactly go well.
SF(wanting to push his case): But look at the ratings sir...the show has been consistently in the top 10 since we had this track.
BF: Yes. Thanks for bringing it up finally. Thats what viewers have been saying. The show is on the top 10 consistently and yet we have been accused of not promoting the show either thru promos or special episodes. What do you have to say to that?
SF: Well sir the lead actor has been arriving late for promo shoots so we had to cancel them. These actors must know who is the boss-Its us the channel guys!
BF: Yes...we are the boss but if the actor arrives late that doesnt mean you dont shoot at all. You are paid to get actors to behave. What have you done for that?
SF: Errr...
BF: Just because I am busy meeting big Bollywood stars and negotiating the crores they want per episode for our next big reality show things have come to this! I am not the big fish here for nothing.
SF(trying to divert BF's attention): And sir you deserve to be! You have wonderful ideas for reality shows. Did you like the promos of CDD we aired this week.
BF(happily): Yes they were great! Do you know Akshay's going to be the guest next week. He told me he loves the concept.
SF(thinking to himself): Ofcourse he loves the concept and also his movie is also releasing next week and BF knows that very well!
BF(continuing): And we are already discussing with Salman for the finale. He's our channel ambassador! Which reminds me of him promoting LTL for us and we promoting Dabangg for him. That was a true synergy.
SF(thinking to himself): Shit! Now he will remember...
BF(continuing): Which reminds of LTL. I dont want viewers pointing out things about ratings to US! We should know the business better than them! And here they teach us. I have been too busy watching promos of reality shows to notice LTL promos but now I realize I havent seen any in a while. What is stopping you from promoting it?
SF(mumbling): We are doing our best sir...Its all the male lead's fault. He doesnt come on time and even gets his pet on the sets.
BF: So what's the connection?
SF: Err...nothing sir!
BF: Do you know the other day I met the big fishes of the rival channels they were laughing at me!
MF(finally getting his chance): Why sir?
BF: They said we have amazing promotion techniques.
MF: Maybe they liked our music video for Bigg Boss.
BF: Thats what I thought then! Now I know what he means. Thats why while one is lauching a new show at LTL's slot another is heavily promoting their show in the same slot.
SF: Dont worry sir...we will make Naku even more aggressive and all others will fall flat in their attempts.
BF: We shall decide that later...for now my immediate problem is I need to stop my assitant from demanding a raise. So plan immediately for a LTL maha episode.
SF: OK sir!
BF: And ensure that you shoot the promo and AIR it.
MF: Dont worry sir. It will get done now that I have realized LTL is actually on Colors. Till now I used feel irritated seeing it in top 10 as I felt it was eating away the space which should have rightfully belonged to Balika Vadhu. Now I will personally watch the show and discuss next week's maha episode with the producer. There is also a character called Dutta whom viewers love. We will ensure he gets prominence in the promos.
BF: Yes...great idea! You really deserve to be my deputy! Give prominence to Dutta in the promos! Now go both of you...I have to go meet a Bollywood star to discuss his anchoring a reality show.
MF and SF walk out of the office while BF calls his assitant happily as he knows that now the viewers would be mollified and mails would stop.
MF: So why didnt you tell me before that LTL is on Colors. You do all the groundwork. I expect you to report everything to me. I thought only BUN, Phulwa, Bhagyavidhata and Maati Ki Banno aired on our channel. They go with our core DNA.
SF: Yes sir...god knows how a show like THAT can do well ratings-wise? I dont know who watches the show.
MF: We shall discover that later. For now tell me who is the producer of LTL and what's his mobile number.
SF: Sure sir...let me feed his number in your mobile for you.
MF: And come up with a promo idea involving Dutta and come and meet me in my office in an hour.
SF: Sure sir!
MF goes to his office while SF goes to his thinking to himself: Give all the prominence you want BFji and MFji to Dutta in the promos. But when the episode airs it will be all Kala and Naku....the latest don jodi I have come up with. And ofcourse the best actor in LTL-Sudarshan! đ