Posted:
Mahaepisode' magic appears to fizzle
Somashukla Sinha Walunjkar, TNN | Jul 16, 2012, 01.44PM IST
A still from 'Hitler Didi'
Two years ago, one hour special episodes of daily soaps had a novelty about them. They were introduced to counter the bigger eyeballs that a Hindi blockbuster could whip up on weekends. What started off as a means to keep viewers glued to general entertainmentchannels even on weekends, instead of flipping for a movie or a music channel is on the verge of backfiring on the channels.
The special episodes of these soaps were supposed to be high on drama content, were meant to introduce new twists and turns in the otherwise predictable fare and make the viewer ask for more. Shows which ended on a Friday peak point didn't necessarily have to keep the viewer wait for a Monday to figure out the storyline. A Saturday/Sunday special episode, called Mahaepisode in TV parlance could take care of it.
In terms of TRPs, Mahaepisodes were able to garner big numbers (reaching the 5/6 TVR (television viewer rating) mark which is considered very good even in weekday viewing) and for once the GECs were TRP-happy to have hit on a winning formula. But like most good things this party was shortlived too. In their haste to spin a Mahaepisode, production houses often were forced to come up with a special episode that turned out to be normal fare without any dramatic twists, which viewers had come to expect of these shows.
Sample this: In week 24, that is (June 10-17) Sajda Tere Pyaar Ka aired a special episode and could manage 0.7 TVR, which reportedly was the final nail in the show's coffin and sent the thriller off air within weeks! The recent Mahaepisode of Hitler Didi barely managed a 1.8 TVR on a weekend special episode (aired two weeks ago) that was supposed to be the high point of the show that week. Uttaran, once the channel driver, fumbled with a 1.6 TVR on its last SundayMahaepisode, and Chhal Sheh Aur Maat got a 0.9 TVR on a Sunday special!
The audience is no longer willing to be taken for granted and has more entertainment options during weekends. Including movie bouquet from channels. Catching up on a 45 minute (total airtime of the soap, sans the commercials) special episode which offered nothing significantly dramatic isn't such an incentive anymore. Probably figuring this out, channels are no longer adding the Mahaepisode TVRs to the TVRs of the show to determine viewership numbers. But a low on drama and randomly done special episode can wreck irreparable damage to a fiction show. With channels in no mood to wait and watch for TVR/TRPs to pick up, poor figures even on weekends for a show might just seal its fate. Sajda has already been pulled off air, Hitler Didihas been shifted to a different timeband, and the producer of Chhal has been given a gentle warning to work on the content as the show goes on scanner.
Fiction fatigue seems to be setting in and it's about time Mahaepisodes were aired only when they can deliver some Maha Surprises or Maha dhamakas as their promos promise to. No one wants Maha fizzlers on a weekend that can be devoted to more viewing options!
The special episodes of these soaps were supposed to be high on drama content, were meant to introduce new twists and turns in the otherwise predictable fare and make the viewer ask for more. Shows which ended on a Friday peak point didn't necessarily have to keep the viewer wait for a Monday to figure out the storyline. A Saturday/Sunday special episode, called Mahaepisode in TV parlance could take care of it.
In terms of TRPs, Mahaepisodes were able to garner big numbers (reaching the 5/6 TVR (television viewer rating) mark which is considered very good even in weekday viewing) and for once the GECs were TRP-happy to have hit on a winning formula. But like most good things this party was shortlived too. In their haste to spin a Mahaepisode, production houses often were forced to come up with a special episode that turned out to be normal fare without any dramatic twists, which viewers had come to expect of these shows.
Sample this: In week 24, that is (June 10-17) Sajda Tere Pyaar Ka aired a special episode and could manage 0.7 TVR, which reportedly was the final nail in the show's coffin and sent the thriller off air within weeks! The recent Mahaepisode of Hitler Didi barely managed a 1.8 TVR on a weekend special episode (aired two weeks ago) that was supposed to be the high point of the show that week. Uttaran, once the channel driver, fumbled with a 1.6 TVR on its last SundayMahaepisode, and Chhal Sheh Aur Maat got a 0.9 TVR on a Sunday special!
The audience is no longer willing to be taken for granted and has more entertainment options during weekends. Including movie bouquet from channels. Catching up on a 45 minute (total airtime of the soap, sans the commercials) special episode which offered nothing significantly dramatic isn't such an incentive anymore. Probably figuring this out, channels are no longer adding the Mahaepisode TVRs to the TVRs of the show to determine viewership numbers. But a low on drama and randomly done special episode can wreck irreparable damage to a fiction show. With channels in no mood to wait and watch for TVR/TRPs to pick up, poor figures even on weekends for a show might just seal its fate. Sajda has already been pulled off air, Hitler Didihas been shifted to a different timeband, and the producer of Chhal has been given a gentle warning to work on the content as the show goes on scanner.
Fiction fatigue seems to be setting in and it's about time Mahaepisodes were aired only when they can deliver some Maha Surprises or Maha dhamakas as their promos promise to. No one wants Maha fizzlers on a weekend that can be devoted to more viewing options!
Sorry for any copy paste mistakes...
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