MAM
Hindi GECs prepare for big action in October
MUMBAI: The pecking order of the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) genre, which has remained unscathed since the launch of KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) on Sony Entertainment Television (Set), is expected to shake up once again after two weeks.
As per TAM data for the week ended 24 September (HSM, C&S, 4+ years), Star Plus continues to lead (289 GRPs) with Set in hot pursuit (270 GRPs). At the same time, the gap between Set and number three player Colors (211 GRPs) has widened to 59 GRPs.
However, the order might change soon as the GECs are either going to launch new shows or are tweaking their programming – some are even doing both.
Colors, for instance, is launching its big-ticket reality show Bigg Boss 5, starting 2 October. The show will this time have two hosts – Salman khan and Sanjay Dutt – to pull audiences. The channel at the same time is axing its non-performing show Mukti Bandhan while Laagi Tujhse Lagan and Na Aana Is Des Laado, two primetime shows, are being pushed to afternoon slots.
Meanwhile, Star Plus’ dance reality show Just Dance is coming to an end on 1 October and will be replaced by the second season of MasterChef India sans Akshay Kumar.
Set is also beefing up its primetime. So far the channel is having a dream run with KBC, which is giving it an average weekly TVR of 5.4. It will launch a romantic drama show, Kuch To Log Kahenge, an adaptation of Pakistani television drama Dhoop Kinare, starting 3 October. Notably, Set’s dependence on non-fiction has dramatically come down and more dailies are getting good eyeballs for the channel. These include Bade Acche Lagte Hain, Crime Petrol and Saas Bina Sasural. With Kuchh Toh…, the channel is expecting a similar response.
Zee TV is aunching a new reality show, Star Ya Rockstar, after the completion of Saregamapa L’il Champs. Zee TV will also be launching a couple of fiction shows in October.
Even Sab, which is hoping to cross 200 GRPs by end of the fiscal, is axing its non-performing show Ammaji ki Gali and replacing it with the male-protagonist show – Don’t Worry Chachu.
At present, Zee TV has settled at number four and closed the week with 176 GRPs, ahead of Sab (123 GRPs). Imagine TV registered 78 GRPs followed by Star one and Sahara One with 39 and 33 GRPs respectively.
Brands
Manindra Mohan joins CoinDCX as SVP & head – data & analytics
Former Amazon and Unacademy analytics leader to scale crypto insights
MUMBAI: India’s crypto exchange CoinDCX has appointed Manindra Mohan as SVP and head of data and analytics, bringing on board a seasoned data strategist at a time when the country’s digital asset market is entering a decisive phase.
In his new role, he will steer enterprise-wide data science, analytics and business intelligence initiatives. His mandate spans product, growth, risk and customer experience, with a clear brief to embed data-led decision-making into the company’s core as it scales across India and beyond.
Announcing the move, Mohan said he was “thrilled” to join CoinDCX, calling the Indian crypto market pivotal and ripe with opportunity. He thanked co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal, along with Mridul Gupta, for the opportunity to help shape what he described as the future of finance.
He noted that architecting data solutions for a 24 hour global asset class presents a formidable challenge. Yet, he added, the chance to redefine financial access and drive crypto adoption “across every pin code in India” makes the task compelling.
Mohan arrives with nearly two decades of experience across technology, media and digital platforms. Before CoinDCX, he served as head of data science, analytics and BI at Carousell Group. Prior to that, he was SVP and head of analytics at Unacademy, where he built and scaled the analytics and insights function supporting product, sales, marketing and finance teams.
His earlier stints include heading analytics for Amazon prime video in India, where he oversaw data across product, acquisition, engagement and content, as well as serving as senior manager data sciences and advanced analytics at VMware and senior manager marketing and digital analytics at Dell Technologies. He began his career as senior business analyst at Cognizant, working on large scale crm and analytics implementations for global clients.
Colleagues describe Mohan as a builder of teams as much as models. From managing global analytics rollouts to leading large cross functional units, he has consistently combined statistical rigour with commercial instinct.
At CoinDCX, that blend could prove timely. As crypto exchanges navigate regulation, volatility and rising user expectations, data is no longer a back office function. It is the compass. With Mohan at the helm of analytics, CoinDCX is betting that sharper insights will translate into deeper trust and broader adoption in a market that never sleeps.
