MAM
Star Plus continues to rule the GEC genre
MUMBAI: The pecking order of the top four Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) remains unchanged and Star Plus continues to lead the genre.
As per TAM data (HSM, C&S, 4+) provided by the Hindi GECs, Star Plus has added 11 GRPs to pocket 264 GRPs for the week ended 1 September. Its fiction shows continue to do well but the viewership of leading property ‘Diya Aur Baati Hum‘ dropped to 5.6 TVR from 6.7 TVR in the preceeding week.
Colors shed 14 GRPs but is still the second most watched channel in the genre backed by its fiction shows like ‘Balika Vadhu‘ (5.5 TVR), ‘Parichay‘ (2.6 TVR) and ‘Madhubala‘ (2.5 TVR) that have seen increase in eyeballs. The channel collected 244 GRPs for the week ended 1 September. Colors might see the performance bettering next week because it‘s launching Sahara-One‘s singing reality show ‘Sur-Kshetra‘ on 8 September.
Holding on to the No.3 position is Zee TV which lost 10 GRPs to end the week with 227 GRPs. The reason for the loss in numbers could be the fall in ratings of its newly launched shows like ‘Ramayana‘ and ‘Dance Ke Superkids‘. The epic show, which had opened with 2.7 TVR, had ratings of 1.3 in the week. Meanwhile, ‘Dance Ke Superkids‘ fell from 5.6 TVR to 4.4 TVR.
Sony Entertainment Television (Set) lost a GRP to record 210 GRPs. The grand finale episode of Indian Idol-6 that ran for almost two-and-a-half hours clocked 3.3 TVR on Saturday. Its most watched fiction show ‘Bade Ache Lagte Hai‘ rated 3.4 TVR (last week 3.3 TVR). The channel is launching its biggest game show, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati -6‘, on 7 September. Hosted by Amtibach Bachan, the show is expected to up Sony‘s ratings and hierarchy in the Hindi GEC pecking order.
Life OK with 132 GRPs (last week 126) is the next in the ladder while just a GRP away is Sab with 131 GRPs (last week 126). Sahara One with 35 GRPs (last week 37) follows.
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
