GECs
Cas effect: net reach of TV genres down in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata
MUMBAI: With conditional access (Cas) coming into effect in certain areas of Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, the net reach as well as market share of all key genres has come down with the exception of Hindi News and cable channels.
This is not surprising as Hindi news channels are free to air.
Audience Measurement and Analytics has done a study on how Cas has afected television viewing. Total usage (Usage per viewer) of television shows a drop of 14 minutes in the first week of January 2007 versus the last week of December 2006.
In Delhi the drop at the peak of prime time (for cable homes) is close to 12 per cent in the first week of the Cas rollout. Similarly Hindi movie channels too lost viewership all across the day. Mass channels and the mass genre retained reach but lost out on market share and time spent. Cable channels were the biggest gainers in this situation notes aMap.
Mumbai presented a picture similar to Delhi with mass genre (Cable Homes) losing in terms of viewership in evening prime time and movie channels losing viewership in afternoon and evening prime time. Hindi News and Cable channels gained in market share as well asusage per viewer.
In Kolkata the drop in ratings of mass genre across various day parts is the most. The drop is as steep as 25 per cent and 39 per cent during the afternoon prime time and the evening prime time respectively. There is a similar drop in ratings of Hindi movies and the drop during the peak day parts both in the morning and evening prime time is to the tune of 23 per cent. Cable and Hindi News channels gained market shares as well as registered an increase in the usage per viewer.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
