GEC Watch: Zee TV, Sony, Zindagi, Pal gain in week 38

The hierarchy of Hindi general entertainment channels remained unchanged last week.

Week 38 of TAM witnessed four Hindi general entertainment channels emerge as gainers. Zee TV and its sibling Zindagi, Sony Entertainment Television and its sister channel Sony Pal saw an increase in viewership during the week, though none could manage a rise up the pecking order.

As per TAM data (C&S, 4+, HSM), provided by a subscriber, Star Plus maintained its lead in the genre with 579978 GVTs, a little low from last week's 594923 GVTs. The channel's recently launched music reality with Yo Yo Honey Singh clocked 3405 TVTs in the week, while Tulip Joshi's Airlines rated 2469 TVTs. Four of the channel's fiction shows made it to the top shows list.

Zee TV held on to the second spot strongly with 442526 GVTs, as opposed to 431746 GVTs in the previous week. The channel launched a new fiction show titled 'Bandhan' in week 38. As per the channel, Bandhan is the second highest opener show across GECs in the year 2014 with 4366 TVTs - the highest is Jamai Raja from with 5488 TVTs. Four shows of the channel featured in the top show's list.

Colors, at No.3, lost marginally. The channel grossed 412405 GVTs in the week, compared to 416675 GVTs in the previous week. Its celebrity dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa rated an average of 4284 TVTs in its concluding week (average of September 14 and finale episode on September 20). One of its fiction shows appeared in the top list.

Life OK and Sab TV ended the week with 294679 GVTs (last week 313012) and 269045 GVTs (last week 292474), respectively. Sab TV's flagship show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma was a part of the top shows. Next came SET which grossed 263802 GVTs in the week ended September 20, against 262507 GVTs in the last week.

Star Utsav ended the week with 101395 GVTs (last week 91189), Zee Anmol with 74816 GVTs (last week 73983), Zindagi with 31528 GVTs (last week 30016), Sony Pal with 24234 GVTs (last week 20881) and Sahara One with 11466 GVTs (last week 12915).

A look at the shows...

Diya Aur Baati Hum came back to the leadership spot in the Hindi GEC hierarchy with 8074 TVTs. The next two shows are Zee TV's KumKum Bhagya and Jodha Akbar that ended the week with 7795 and 7722 TVTs, respectively.

At No.4 is Star Plus' Saathiya Saath Nibhana that rated an average of 7062 TVTs in the week. It is followed by Zee TV's Jamai Raja that clocked 7045 TVTs. Star Plus' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai closed the week with 6360 TVTs as the Colors' Sasural Simar Ka stood next with 6165 TVTs.

The eighth spot is occupied by Sab's Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma that settled with 6142 TVTs. Star Plus' Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Zee TV's Qubool Hai wrapped up the week with 5743 TVTs, and 5391 TVTs, respectively.

For the record, the figures mentioned are 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 that is under consideration. It captures growth in TV audiences in the country in absolute numbers. The TVR system, in contrast, works on percentages.