MAM
IPL TV ratings continue to fall
MUMBAI: The fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), following the cricket World Cup, continues to put up a weaker performance compared to its earlier versions.
IPL 4.0 scored an average TVR of 3.84 for the first 59 matches, according to data from Tam Sports (six metros C&S4+). Last time the matches fetched a TVR of 6.36 compared to a rating of 4.66 in the second year and 5.39 in the first season.
The previous season‘s data for the 59 matches, however, includes the semifinals.
In IPL 4.0, the last 10 matches got an average TVR of 3.32. Only two of them crossed a TVR of 4. The highest rating was the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, which got a TVR of 4.42.
Overall, the highest rated match is still the first match which got a TVR of 7.77. It was the only match that touched a TVR of 7. Last year, five matches during the league stage touched a TVR of 7.
According to Alchemist managing director and promoter Manish Porwal, the vanilla reach of the IPL has gone up but people are spending less time on it. They are also coming back to it less often.
“There is fatigue due to the World Cup. The longer duration of the tournament has also affected ratings. There is a limit to the amount of cricket people are willing to watch,” he says.
The addition of two teams has also added to the fragmentation. “Loyalties to some extent are being split. For instance, all of Maharashtra used to watch the Mumbai Indians. Now with Pune coming in, some people in Maharashtra have an interest in that team. The good news, however, is that the drop has not been as bad as was expected,” says Porwal.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
