MAM
Colors one step away from Sony
MUMBAI: Colors is one step behind Sony Entertainment Television, the closest it has got to this year as it strives to occupy the No. 2 spot in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) space.
Colors gained marginally through its weekend one-hour special airing of a fiction property while Sony lost eight GRPs (gross rating points) to narrow the gap between the second and third GECS to just a single point.
Colors scored 208 GRPs for the week ended 11 February, helped by its recently launched daily fiction property, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, that clocked 2 TVR in its special airing on Saturday-Sunday. The Viacom18 channel added 4 GRPs over the preceding week, gaining 5 GRPs from its weekend programming.
Sony, on the other hand, rested the week ended 11 February with 209 GRPs, down from 217 GRPs. The channel, which rejuvenated on the back of the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) last year, lost six GRPs from its weekday primetime content and two points from the weekend properties. Its two top-rated shows, C.I.D and Bade Achche Lagte Hain, fell to an average TVR of 3.8 and 2.9 respectively, from their trailing week ratings of 4.1 and 3.2.
The narrowest gap between the two rivals this year was seven GRPs in the week ended 28 January, after Colors had briefly toppled Sony in the last week of 2011 due to its in-house television awards show, Golden Petal Awards that fetched a TVR of 4.98.
“The place for the second position has opened up. It will be interesting to see what strategies Sony and Colors adopt in the year,” says a media analyst.
Market leader, Star Plus, lost 36 GRPs and ended the week with 273 GRPs, according to TAM data for the Hindi speaking markets (C&S, 4+). The channel saw a dip in viewership in all the slots (weekday primetime, weekend primetime and afternoon). The channel‘s popular shows, Saathiya Saath Nibhana, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Ha, Diya Aur Bati Hum and Iss Pyar ko Kya Nam Du lost ratings.
Zee TV, the fourth GEC in the pecking order, added 23 GRPs on the back of Zee Cine Awards (4.38 TVR) that was aired on 5 February at the 8 pm slot. The channel ended with 202 GRPs (last week 179).
Sony Entertainment Network‘s second offering, Sab, registered 142 GRPs (last week 132). The channel’s most-watched fiction comedy, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma, found its way to the Top 10 GEC programme list for the week ended 11 February, garnering 3.84 TVR.
Life OK, Star‘s second GEC, gained 4 GRPs to end the week with 87 GRPs.
Imagine TV with 57 GRPs (last week 55) and Sahara One with 46 GRPs (last week 48) continued to occupy the bottom of the GEC ladder.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
