MAM
Bollywood awards show widens genre leader Star Plus’ lead
MUMBAI: Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) genre leader Star Plus got a big lift from its Bollywood awards show it aired on the new year‘s eve, helping it widen its lead in the opening week of 2013.
Star Plus with 287 GRPs (gross rating points) was ahead of Colors by 34 GRPs as it gained 42 points. The gap in Star Plus‘ GRPs and that of Colors in the 52nd week of 2012 was just 7 points.
The Big Star Entertainment Awards fetched Star Plus 41 GRPs as it ran for three-and-a-half hours on the New Year‘s eve and notched a TVR of 5.9 TVR, according to TAM data (HSM, 4+, C&S) provided by a television channel. The other shows of the channel have seen marginal difference in the viewership, keeping the overall ratings neutral.
Says Star Plus GM Nachiket Pantvaidya, “Star Plus‘ aim with Big Star Entertainment awards was to make New Year‘s Eve a special and memorable one for the entire family and keep them entertained through the night. It is indeed heartening to see a brilliant response from our viewers. This is just the beginning for 2013 and we have great entertainment lined up for the year.”
Colors got a boost from its in-house television awards show to maintain its second position. Colors Golden Petal Awards, also airing on the New Year‘s eve, earned a TVR of 4.5 as the channel added 15 GRPs in the week ended 5 January. The annual award function contributed 31.5 GRPs as Colors totaled 253 GRPs during the week. A few of the shows of the channel like Balika Vadhu (4.9 TVR) and Madhubala (3.7 TVR) saw a slight dip in viewership, while others like Bigg Boss-6 (2.8 TVR), Uttaran (2.5 TVR) and Shaitaan (1.4 TVR) went up marginally.
Occupying the third slot is Zee TV with 211 GRPs (last week 198). The channel had launched a new fiction property, Housewife, that debuted with 2.5 TVR, better than its replaced show Afsar Bitiya which last recorded a rating of 2 TVR. Like Colors, few of Zee TV‘s fiction shows have seen improvement in performance while others have seen loss in eyeballs. Its fiction shows like Punarvivaha (1.9 TVR) and Fear Files (2.4 TVR) have seen increase in numbers.
Sony Entertainment Television (Set) lost 18 GRPs to end the week with 180 GRPs. The channel has launched the new season of its comedy reality show, Comedy Circus, which opened with 2.4 TVR.
Sab lost 6 GRPs to register 150 GRPs while Life OK added four GRPs to close the week with 114 GRPs. Sahara One maintained status quo with 23 GRPs.
Brands
Celsius100 Consulting names Rhys Rufus CEO
Long-time leader steps up as firm bets on continuity to drive next growth phase
BENGALURU: Celsius100 Consulting Private Limited has elevated long-serving leader Rhys Rufus to chief executive officer, marking a leadership shift as the firm prepares for its next phase of growth.
Rufus takes over from founder S Ghosh, who will continue as founder and managing director. In his new role, Ghosh will focus on strategic direction and new business opportunities, while Rufus assumes responsibility for daily operations and growth initiatives.
The appointment caps a 16-year journey for Rufus at the company. Having joined in its early years, he went on to build Celsius100’s digital services arm from scratch, turning it into one of the firm’s fastest-growing verticals. Under his leadership, the company strengthened its capabilities across digital marketing strategy, performance marketing, campaign execution and measurement.
Beyond digital, Rufus has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s talent pool and expanding its client base. He has led business development efforts across India and helped extend the firm’s footprint into the United Kingdom, reinforcing its position as a cross-market consulting partner.
“Rhys has been the backbone of our growth story for 16 years. He built our digital services practice from scratch, assembled a brilliant team, and won the trust of clients in India and the UK. His calm temperament, his deep commitment to quality, and his ability to forge lasting partnerships make him the ideal person to lead Celsius100 into its next chapter. I could not be more confident in this transition,” said Celsius100 Consulting Private Limited founder and managing director S Ghosh.
Rufus struck a reflective note on taking charge. “Celsius100 has been home for the better part of my professional life and I am deeply honoured to take on this responsibility. We have built something unique together over almost two decades, and I look forward to working with our talented team and valued clients to take the company to new heights. Our focus will remain on delivering work that truly transforms our partners’ businesses,” said Rufus.
Colleagues describe Rufus as a steady hand under pressure and a leader who prioritises long-term relationships. His elevation signals a clear bet on continuity, with the company choosing to promote from within rather than look outside for leadership.
As Celsius100 enters its next chapter, the transition reflects both stability and ambition, with a familiar face now steering the firm towards fresh opportunities.
