|  | | Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, | All is certainly not well with Sony, and to top it all it is feeling the heat from SaharaOne. The latter has managed to fetch higher TRPs (those magical viewership ratings that make or break a show) than Sony, and this speaks volumes on the number games that TV channels indulge in for the top slot.
With Star and Zee leading the roost at No 1 and No 2 respectively, SaharaOne is gradually taking over the No 3 slot from Sony.
Says Kalyan Sundaram, programming head, SaharaOne, "It is all because of good content. We have done it slowly, but surely.
The Rajshri show Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki has been a channel driver for us and remains in the top slot. Now we have two new additions to the list.
Jay and Kinnari Mehta's Solhah Singaarr has shown a good rise in TRPs along with the latest entrant, Ajai Sinha's Ghar... Ek Sapnaa, which is also slowly making an impact."
Wise moves
 | | Solhah Singaarr | SaharaOne folks feel that the going is good for them in the 9 pm to 10 pm slot. "When the third season of Kaun Banega Crorepati began with Shah Rukh Khan, everyone reacted. But we kept quiet and did not reschedule our line-up.
And even in that time slot there has been a marginal rise in ratings for our shows," says Sundaram.
The channel attributes their good showing to their loyal viewers. "We have always had good following for Woh Rehne…, now even Solhah Singarr and Ghar.. Ek Sapnaa are picking up good following," adds Sundaram. "We would like to believe that this will be the scenario for a long time to come now," he adds.
Rescheduling spree
 | | Ghar... Ek Sapnaa | For Sony, which has just axed Anuj Saxena's Kulvaddhu as reported 'Abrupt end for Kulvaddhu' (Hitlist, March 8), the channel's line-up of soaps is being rescheduled for Smriti Z Irani's Viruddh, which begins from March 26 in the 9.30 pm slot.
Thodi Khushi Thode Gham will now be rescheduled to 8.30 pm to replace Kulvaddhu, with Ek Ladki Anjaani Si at 9 pm, Durgesh Nandinii at 10 pm and Jeete Hi Jiske Liye at 10.30 pm.
Presently, it appears that Sony's attempts at daily soaps is not working wonders. Their reality shows like Indian Idol, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and most recent Bigg Boss did generate a lot of curiosity and hype but in the long run that doesn't generate revenues the way tear-jerker soaps do.
Says a producer on condition of anoymity, "Sony folks have been interfering a lot with the production houses and there are a lot of squabbles among them. Obviously, all this is having a telling effect on the viewership." |
