MAM
Shahrukh Khan’s KBC 3 debut draws strong ratings
MUMBAI: Shahrukh Khan seems to have cast magic on the ratings as he played host for the first time in the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, replacing megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
Putting all anxiety to rest for the broadcaster Star Plus, KBC 3 opened with a market share of 24.36 per cent in the Hindi speaking segment of NWE (north, west, east) India, according to aMap’s overnight TV rating system.
In comparison to the previous Mondays of 2007, iin which Star Plus garnered 12.4 per cent, this is not only a much larger share but almost double of the average ratings.
The actual number of viewers that were reached by KBC 3 in NWE India is 9.16 million. On an All India Level 10.29 million people were reached. And with Tamil general entertainment channel Star Vijay also adding up the audiences, 11.3 million people were reached on an All India level.
aMap highlighted a key trend of the programme on its opening day that indicates that ‘King Khan’ managed to retain the viewers after every break taken. The ratings kept on increasing after each break, and the last sequence got the highest ratings.
The show managed a jump of 91.5 per cent for the ratings per cent of Star Plus and almost all Star channels and genres got impacted due to the show.
In fact, 1.3 million people switched on their TV sets just to watch KBC, in NWE India. In terms of SEC, SEC A and B got higher numbers than the others. The ratings show that the more affluent target groups watched a lot more of KBC. Target groups like graduates, businessmen, self-employed professionals got the highest numbers.
Additionally, people living in small households, four and below, got more ratings than people staying in households with five more people.
Also, among the 20 brands that advertised on the show, Motorola’s Motophone advertisment was rated the highest.
Analysts are, however, cautious, saying that the ratings have to be watched over a longer period to arrive at any conclusions.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
