GEC Watch: Sony hops to No. 4 on the back of 'Ram Leela' premiere

Sunil Grover's 'Mad in India' debuts with 5700 TVTs on February 16.

Multi Screen Media's (MSM) flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has made to it the Top 4 after a gap of more than 20 weeks, courtesy the television premiere of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela-Ram Leela'.

As per TAM data (HSM, C&S, 4+), Sony added around 64000 GVTs to gross 339000 GVTs in Week 8. The channel aired the Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh starrer 'Ram Leela' that garnered 8900 TVTs in its three-and-a-half hour telecast on February 16. The movie has also featured amongst top 10 programmes on Hindi GECs in the week ended February 22.

In order to fetch more viewership for the movie's television premiere, Sony had run a contest that was promoted extensively through its Facebook page. The contest required a viewer to spot and count the number of bullets and hearts during the screening of the movie and lucky winners stood a chance to win Rs 10,000.

Ram Leela that was released on November 15, 2013 had started generating buzz much before its launch. While a part of it was because of the sizzling chemistry between the lead actors (Padukone and Singh) seen during the trailer and songs, Priyanka Chopra's sensuous dance in the title number also gathered many eyeballs.

If one may recall, Sony was last at No.4 in Week 38 of 2013, during the telecast of Crime Patrol's episode based on the Delhi gang rape case. The other big events after this were - premiere of another blockbuster Bollywood movie of 2013 - Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani - in Week 44 that garnered 6995 TVTs, and telecast of Filmfare Awards in Week 5 (2014) that fetched 5994 TVTs for the channel. However, neither YJHD nor Filmfare could push Sony to the top four.

Star Plus continued to lead the genre with 688000 GVTs as compared to 702000 GVTs in the previous week. The channel was ahead of Colors by 186000 GVTs. It launched Sunil Grover (popularly known as Gutthi from Comedy Nights with Kapil) and Manish Paul's comedy non-fiction - 'Mad in India' - on February 16 at 9 pm. The one hour show debuted with 5700 TVTs. The STAR India flagship channel also launched a show based on dark love stories titled 'Ishq Kills' on the same day at the 10 pm slot. The show opened with 1900 TVTs. Ratings of both the new shows (Mad In India and Ishq Kills) probably felt a bit of heat because of telecast of 'Ram Leela' and 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', running simultaneously on Sony and Colors, respectively. Besides, five of the shows of the channel featured in the Top 10 programmes' list.

Viacom18's Colors held on to the second spot with 502000 GVTs, down from 504000 GVTs in Week 7. The channel pushed three of its shows to the top programmes' list. At No.3 was Zee TV that closed the week with 454000 GVTs as opposed to 457000 GVTs in the previous week. Its historical drama remained in the Top 10 programmes' chart.

Following Sony, at No. 5 was its sister channel SAB TV that garnered 326000 GVTs, up from 297000 GVTs in the previous week. One of its shows featured in the most watched list. Life OK with 318000 GVTs followed it (last week 328000).

Star Utsav (86000 GVTs), Zee Anmol (65000 GVTs), Sahara One (37000 GVTs) and Rishtey (30000) were next in the list.

Star Plus' Diya Aur Baati Hum continued to be the most watched show on Hindi GECs with an average of 12600 TVTs, followed by Zee TV's Jodha Akbar with 10800 TVTs. At No.3 was Star Plus' Saathiya Saath Nibhana that clocked 9800 TVTs in Week 8 of TAM.

Sony's Ram Leela stood at No. 4 as Star Plus' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai occupied the fifth spot with 8500 TVTs. Colors' Comedy Nights with Kapil with 8400 TVTs was at No. 6 as SAB's Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah took over the seventh spot on the chart.

This was followed by Star Plus' Mahabharat with 6900 TVTs.

Colors' reality talent hunt, 'India's Got Talent' (6700 TVTs) and Balika Vadhu (6400 TVTs) ranked No.9 and No.10, respectively.

For the record, the figures mentioned are approximate TVT figures. TVT is television viewership in 1000s (TVR in 1000). It is the average number of individuals in '000s that are available at any given minute of a programme/day part under consideration. It captures growth in TV audiences in the country in absolute numbers. The TVR system, in contrast, works on percentages.