2013 - Top Channels of the year

Come every Thursday, every GEC (General Entertainment Channel) faces the music of the TAM ratings. It’s an unexpected twist in the form of ‘romance’, ‘separation’, ‘good turning grey’, ‘a death’, ‘drama’ so on and so forth that makes the difference between gaining excellent ratings over the week and failing to deliver in terms of ratings. However, as we get to the end of the year 2013, we now talk of consistency and perfection with which the various GECs have fared. So which is the channel that gets the top honours? What’s exactly worked for a particular channel? And what has failed to deliver? Here’s our Year-Ender article on the ‘bests’ and ‘worsts’ when it comes to the channels. We start with Star Plus, the number uno channel that has never ever seen the threat of losing its #1 position this year. The biggest plus that Star Plus has had is the great sustenance that many of its long-running shows have managed to garner this year. Diya Aur Baati Hum has reigned supreme as the #1 show across all GECs for a while now. Saath Nibhana Saathiya and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai are shows that are still in the top 10 league after attracting viewers for years now. Ek Veer Ki Ardaas – Veera has bagged a lot of appreciation for its unique story and it continues to do well on the TVT charts too. Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara has managed to have great consistency and remains in the Top 5 shows. Last but not the least, Mahabharat has lived up to its expectations and is surely working its way to the top. Coming to the reality package on offer on Star Plus this year, India’s Dancing Superstar was a revelation of sorts. MasterChef India followed by Junior MasterChef kept the audience engaged. And now the ongoing season of Nach Baliye has already started to spread its magic. For the failures, Mujhse Kuch Kehti – Yeh Khamoshiyaan which was a big-ticket show fell flat and this indeed hurt Star Plus a lot. Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon.. Ek Baar Phir which got all the spotlight and was supposed to be an instant success (owing to its popularity in Season 1) has yet not created any magic, though the ratings have been better of late. Ek Nanad Ki Khushiyon Ki Chaabi, Meri Bhabhi has been a non-starter and there are already reports of the show heading towards its closure in the New Year. Saraswatichandra has indeed shown a remarkable improvement in terms of ratings when expected to the dismal start it had, but guess this is not enough!! Ek Ghar Banaunga has been getting a decent TVT, but it could have done better, had the channel allotted a better time slot for the show. Overall, we can say that Star Plus as a channel likes to be in its ‘comfort zone’. This might be the reason why there is a lack of variety in terms of programming when it comes to the ongoing bouquet of shows that are being offered. Guess a bit of a programming alteration with an introduction of few experimental and out-of-the-box concepts might do wonders for Star Plus!! Star Plus might gain with more variety in offer at the weekend slots. Zee TV gets the Number 2 position!! The youth-oriented Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke has indeed been a revelation, something different from the ‘usuals’ that Zee TV has catered to the audience over the years. Qubool Hai being one of the first Muslim subjects on Hindi TV has managed to garner a huge fan following and is doing quite well for the channel. However, the show that gave Zee TV all the momentum this year is Jodha Akbar. Launched amidst some huge controversies, it has managed to do wonders and is today a very much talked about historical on TV. In terms of reality shows, Dance India Dance Super Moms came as a surprise package for the channel. Must say, the show actually managed to deliver more than what it was expected to!! The presently running Dance India Dance Season 4 has started well and has all the ingredients to get better. So which are the shows that went crashing on Zee TV? Guess Zee TV is not lucky enough to recreate the magic of a Season 2. After Chhoti Bahu 2 failing to live up to the expectations of its super-hit Season 1, Zee TV’s highly branded Punar Vivah failed to deliver in its second season, even with a fresh story line. Badalte Rishton Ki Dastaan, touted to be a big show did not even manage to grab eyeballs and bit the dust in quick time. The saddest aspect for Zee TV is that its popular show Pavitra Rishta is indeed on its decline. The exciting new concept Ek Mutthi Aasman has not at all been impressive and has not made any major difference on the TVT charts. Khelti Hai Zindagi… Aankh Micholi has been a flop show, and is already being ousted from the present bouquet. Buddha, the highly expensive show is great in terms of visuals and is truly a story not seen before on Indian TV, but the ratings of the show say a sad story… Guess Zee TV will now be looking to wind up this costly project once it hits its targeted 50 plus episodes mark. It’s still early days for Doli Armaanon Ki and Bh Se Bhade. Connected Hum Tum anchored by Abhay Deol which traversed the daily lives of six women went unnoticed, and that is a pity!! Zee TV is trying hard no doubt, but again needs to offer a bit more variety to probably get more GRPs. It did reach the top spot once beating Star Plus, but that was all SRK magic. Numbers shot up due to Chennai Express screening. That we will give a pass. Colors which ends the year as the Top 3 channel has had a splendid year when it comes to experimentation and bringing in some path-breaking shows. While Sasural Simar Ka and Balika Vadhu, their long-running shows are going great guns Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon has come as a whiff of fresh air with its interesting concept. 24, the tele-series coming from Anil Kapoor is certainly a game changer for television – an innovation in terms of television viewing has certainly received a thumbs-up from the viewers. Coming to reality, Comedy Nights with Kapil has become a sensation and has taken the nation by storm. Bigg Boss 7 has created all the noise possible and is heading towards a great closure. Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa too managed to grab eye-balls. Talking of failures, the season 2 of Sanskaar – Dharohar Apnon Ki has not stood its ground, and one seems to wonder what made the channel take the decision of coming up with the next season, as the original run in itself was not a success story. The same can be said of Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha Season 2. At the time of its launch, the makers and channel had believed that the prime-time slot given in Season 2 (which was not provided in Season 1) will make the difference. But nothing of this sort happened, and the Season 2 we can say, was a disaster as it never took off. Bani – Ishq Da Kalma, though yet another concept that talks of a societal issue, has not yielded big ratings. Uttaran, the long-running show is now going down and has nothing new to offer. The above-mentioned fiction failures have probably restricted Colors to the #3 slot. Though their experiment in 24 has been hugely appreciated, the admiration has not resulted in huge ratings. Yes, one can say that the weird rating system needs to be blamed here. Overall, Colors has had a good year in terms of experimentation. But they have not been lucky enough in striking a massive connect with the audience in terms of their ratings. We hope the channel has a better year ahead. Life OK which is placed at the #4 position is again a channel that has gone for out-of-the-box concepts, and has provided the audience with a wide range of shows. Savdhan India and Hum Ne Lii Hai… Shapath are shows that have managed to impress viewers of all ages this year. Kaisa Yeh Ishq Hai… Ajab Sa Risk Hai gone on to do decent work, and has earned itself a Season 2. Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev is surely past its prime, but is even now working wonders for the channel and has gone on to be a trend-setter in itself. Coming to debacles, Do Dil Ek Jaan got famous for its share of controversies rather than its story-telling. However, the channel has put in immense faith in the concept and has come up with a revamped story line with a post leap phase and new faces. Ek Boond Ishq and Gustakh Dil have managed to do an average job, but there is nothing remarkable that can be expected out of the shows in the future. Mallika Sherawat’s The Bachelorette India did create a storm with its drama and emotional quotient, but the numbers still eluded the show. Tumhari Paakhi and Khauff Begins… Ringa Ringa Roses are new shows that still need to prove its worth. Overall, Life OK has the ‘dare’ to go in for freshness and variety. Guess they just need few successful shows to change the tide in their favour. Will Hatim do the magic, let’s see!!! SAB TV has been a trend-setter no doubt in giving families a complete package of rib-tickling comedy. However, the channel got few things wrong this year. Their shows Hum Aapke Hain In-Laws, R.K. Laxman Ki Duniya and Tota Weds Maina failed to get numbers and were pulled off in a short span of time. Even the ever-popular show FIR dropped in numbers post the exit of Kavita Kaushik, and with the emergence of the new cast post leap. However, the channel made the right decision of getting Kavita back. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah continues to be the ‘face’ of the channel with its supreme run. Jeannie Aur Juju, in spite of its recent controversies has managed to weather the storm and stay on. Baal Veer, the fantasy-based show is doing well, and so are Chidiya Ghar and Lapataganj Ek Baar Phir. Waah Waah Kya Baat Hai provided for freshness and had a regular set of viewers. Sab Khelo Sab Jeeto is interesting and with a host like Cyrus Sahukar at the centre, it gathers a good set of audience. Sony Entertainment Television has very less to boast of this year!! While it hit the right path with Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap, few other shows like Amita Ka Amit, Anamika and Chhanchhan fizzled off within quick time. The channel has been surviving owing to its strong programming in its weekend line-up. The long-running CID, Crime Patrol, Kaun Banega Maha Crorepati, Comedy Circus Ke Mahabali and Adaalat to some extent are the shows that represent the success story of Sony TV as a channel. The re-introduction of Boogie Woogie into the line-up will only strengthen the weekend band. Having said this, Kehta Hai Dil… Jee Le Zara brings freshness and has all the ingredients to re-define fiction on Sony TV. Bade Acche Lagte Hain which has had its good run is tapering down in terms of ratings, and guess it is time for the show to wind up. Sony TV needs to fasten its belts and provide some path-breaking fiction shows to survive the heat of the competition in the coming year. Sahara One has quite a lot to achieve to get its share of recognition on the rating charts. Let us know about your favourite channel of 2013. Hit the poll section on the site.