International Viewers & Comments

In North America ( I'm Canadian) the tv cable system works this way usually, you sign up with a major provider, get the basic channels and then for multicultural channels, such as ATN, SONY, AAPKA etc. you pay per channel for example, for one channel, Sony, you have to pay @350 rupees per month and obviously the royalties go back to the Indian networks. Prime time is considered between 7:30-9:30 roughly, so about 4 timeslots.

Are you telling me that Humsafars wasn't good enough to run in any of those 4 spots, that it wasn't in the top 4 shows that wasn't a crime drama? Why is it that other shows that no one watches were able to stay on, and I can't mention the show names but the one where there is a spirit inhabiting another persons body?

So my comment is that all the international viewers in the world who pay to watch the show have absolutely no bearing on whether or not the shows stay on or not, that they can take our money but not give us any say in how popular a show is at all, essentially, our opinions or viewing habits don't matter right?

I don't watch many serials at all, they have to be different than the typical SAAS-BAHU nonsense so its only very few shows that can attract a large international following in addition to the local indian population. It is these very shows that are different that need to have representation by everyone who watches them. I am going to use a show for example from another network that has been finished for a while, Saraswatichandra. Now it never really attained the heights of popularity ppl thought it would but that network paid some attention to the international audience where that show was very popular and despite there being constant rumors as to it ending thru its entire run, it lasted 19 months because even though the TRP's never supported it locally, that network paid some attention to outside viewers.

I am not using this show to say what network is better etc or if that show was better or good at all, just using it as an example. Why would a professional network pull the plug on a show when its commonly known it takes anywhere between 6-8 months to really develop a strong following with the right promotion?

Sony really can't be that out to lunch to think that they can replace Humsafars, a show that has adult leads, a complex man and woman in a complex relationship, with a show that looks like it belongs on the Nickelodean channel since the leads of the show look like they are little boys and girls playing house compared to the cast of Humsafars.

I guarantee that this show and also the one with Ram Kapoor will be gone within 4-5 months, thru no fault of the actors etc. but rather that Sony seems to think that all their shows need to attain the same TRP's as their crime drama's. Different shows like Humsafar's and (it looks like that Ram Kapoor's won't be quite typical either) will never get those high crime drama TRP"S but as every network knows, diversity is key or else you will burn the audience out and lose their interest if all you have is one type of show. After Ram Kapoor's show fails, it will be a major sign to other popular actors/actresses that Sony is a "show killer" and would you want to sign with a network that pulls the plug within a few short months? Maybe it will take this current batch of shows to fail for Sony to get a clue, for the light to finally shine into the dark empty heads of the Sony executives to understand that talented actors aren't easy to find and to develop the brains to learn patience.

Anyways, I just wanted to say my thoughts on this show once before its gone and now a comment.

I was angry at Sony for pulling the plug on Humsafars but after watching the SBS segment where Shivya starts crying when Harshad is saying nice things about her, that turned my anger into full on Incredible Hulk Rage because to see that much chemistry being wasted made me livid.

To have the kind of chemistry they had on Humsafars is something you can't force, plan, or do anything to actually create, its either there or not, its that "magic" that is so hard to capture that separates average shows from the ones you will watch over and over again and who you bond with. To see such genuine affection and feelings on display throughout this show, on screen and off screen, and to see that much potential prematurely pulled, it makes me question the sanity of the channel executives. This is a promise though, I will never invest my time or caring in a network that shows no ability to back its shows long enough to accurately judge whether or not its a success or not . I know many people say they won't watch Sony but even if Harshad or Shivyai sign on with Sony again, I won't watch any of their shows because we all know we will be disappointed all over again and I'm not a glutton for punishment!

My utmost well wishes with all the cast of Humsafars, you truly are better off somewhere else.

I wonder why these channel don't respect the opinions of international viewers . Let me tell you if they are not able to cater indian international audience then they will be rotten by only Saas bahu sagas which the so called TRP viewers enjoy watching.

I have been shuffling channels and I see such useless shows runnung for years then what was wrong with humsafars ...I really tell you there are other channels which are considering the international viewers and don't jump on to shut the show like Sony did.

Ok now it's all done I just want to say the cast deserve much better channel. I wish the whole cast get better shows and we see them soon on our television.

I know there are many viewers, both international and local that enjoy these different shows rather than the saas-bahu silliness but this was my first series on Sony I watched and will be my last.

All networks eventually see the light of day and realize their mistakes but its often after having falling down in the rankings far enough to finally wake up; the failure of the current line up other than "Itna Pyaar Na Karo" will hopefully be the sign that they need to stand behind their shows, show some patience and foresight to realize all shows have their ups and downs, give them the proper support, the promotion and the time to grow rather than cutting it prematurely.

I would love Humsafars 2 but I believe unless its a huge powerhouse that really convinces Harshad, he is disappointed and disillusioned in what happened so I cannot see him risking it all again unless he is absolutely sure about the network, the producers etc. I do think we all know what network he should try next.

First of all, I would just like to say that it's really nice to see your posts somewhere after so long. I remember your silent but strong presence in the SC forum, and it's nice to meet somewhere else again, albeit we're meeting on the eve of the last episode of Humsafars! Thanks for posting! Your insights are always a treat 😳

I am also Canadian, and admittedly, (and kind of unfortunately) have the same channels that 90% of the time show the same Saas-Bahu crap. And as you've so eloquently described, a lot of those shows are in those 4 prime-time slots. Admittedly, those shows sell just as much as Humsafars does (I stopped watching dramas after SC changed production houses... I just found it so useless, and I was really surprised to break a 13 month long streak by latching onto Humsafars in September) but there's a catch - those shows are ruthlessly promoted by their respective channels, regardless of whatever intellectual terrors are occurring in their storylines.

I agree completely that certain other channels have been taken aback by international viewership and thus hastily agreed to their demands. This is where Sony is completely lacking. As far as I know, there is a major discrepancy between Sony India's programme schedule and Sony Canada's. Here, they'll air 4 hours of Humsafars because it's so popular. Apparently, in India, they decided to stop promoting the show on air, online, as well as refused to give repeats.

This is what's so unfathomable. No competent marketing team that I've ever seen has simply given up on one of it's shows because its TRP is 0.1 less than one of its worst shows. And what's even worse is Sony's lack of marketing strategy does not only hurt the sentiments of international viewers, but also puts to waste the hours and hours of toiling of many cast and crew members.

To be so careless is indescribable. If Sony truly wishes to be a top channel, they'll need to do a lot more than axe a show because it isn't doing so well domestically for a few weeks. Shameful, shameful waste.

I am glad you enjoy my posts, as you know, something really has to bother me or something momentous happens in order for me to write so I had to share before Humsafars signed off. I mentioned earlier, that's why the cancellation of HS bugs me is that its rare for a show to have that special blend of drama, romance, chemistry, decent storyline, atypical roles etc. In 4 yrs, I have watched Sasural Genda Phool , IPKNND, SC and now Humsafars so its pretty evident that there aren't many quality shows out there hence why the long gaps for me to message :)

See, I didn't really realize that the show wasn't being promoted as heavily as here in Canada & internationally. This is a note for the local indian viewers, were you aware that HS was promoted just as much as the other shows here usually, there were commercials and it was one of the top shows here and so much so that on the weekends, they would show the entire weeks shows back to back so can you imagine 2 hrs of HS 😃

I agree that its unfathomable that a professional show with all its cast, crew, popular actor etc. be cut so quickly, I am in business and I know that you never cut something so quickly where it requires an investment initially. The returns of that early patience pay off down the road from months 8-16, but let it have its time to iron out the mistakes, all shows stumble at some point but their knee jerk response to cutting it, its amateurish in the extreme.

Now its going to be another dry spell to see what serial to watch, in your words Veera, a shameful waste of that elusive chemistry.

-Wally