MAM
Star Plus gains 17 GRPs while others fall
MUMBAI: Star Plus is continuing to lead the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) genre, while Sony Entertainment TV (Set), Colors and Zee TV have declined in the week ended 1 October.
As per TAM data for week 40 (25 September-1 October) for the Hindi speaking markets (C&S, 4+), Star Plus added 17 GRPs (gross rating points) this week. The channel ended the week with 306 GRPs (last week 289).
The week also saw grand finale of three shows – Just Dance (Star Plus), India‘s Got Talent 3 (Colors) and Saregamapa Lil Champs (Zee TV). Just Dance clocked maximum, i.e. 2.9 TVR, while IGT3 and Lil Champs got 2 TVR and 2.6 TVR respectively.
Set, meanwhile, lost 21 GRPs and ended the week with 249 GRPs (270 GRPs in previous week). Colors continued to be at third place with 205 GRPs after losing 6 GRPs. However, the channel may see a jump next week as it will include Bigg Boss5’s launch day ratings.
For Zee TV, the news continues to be bad. The flagship channel of Zee Entertainment Enterprises touched a new low, sinking to 157 GRPs (last week 176). No show of the channel figured in the top 10 list.
Sab clocked 126 GRPs (last week 123), followed by Imagine TV with 75 GRPs (last week 78).
Meanwhile, Sahara One has once again raced ahead of Star One. Sahara One closed the week with 36 GRPs (last week 33), while Star one came down to 33 GRPs from previous week‘s 39 GRPs.
Amongst the top 10 shows, Star Plus‘ Saathiya remained on top with a peak TVR of 6.22, followed by Set’s KBC (4.44 TVR) and Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (4.42 TVR). Other shows on the list are: Is Pyaar Ko Kyaa Naam Doon (Star Plus, 4.2 TVR), Uttaran (Colors, 3.94 TVR), Sasural Genda Phool and Yeh Rishta (Star plus, 3.9 TVR each), Balika Vadhu (Colors, 3.81 TVR), Pratigya (Star Plus, 3.76 TVR) and Crime Petrol (Set, 3.71 TVR).
Digital
Google rolls out $15B AI, education and connectivity plan for India
AI tools for 11 million students, new subsea cables, and a national skilling push.
NEW DELHI: Google is backing its words with action. In a major push to future-proof the world’s most populous nation, Google DeepMind has partnered with the Indian government on a large-scale AI initiative.
Announced by CEO Sundar Pichai at the India AI Impact Summit, the deal is less of a gentle nudge and more of a full-throttle sprint into the digital age. Part of Google’s $15 billion commitment to South Asia, the plan aims to weave artificial intelligence into the very fabric of Indian daily life, from the deep ocean floor to the back of the classroom.
The most heart-warming slice of this digital pie is the focus on the next generation. Google is partnering with 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, effectively dropping high-tech AI tools into the laps of roughly 11 million students.
The goal? To introduce generative AI assistance in schools, ensuring that the homework of the future is powered by more than just caffeine and late-night panic.
While the kids are busy with AI in the classroom, Google is busy under the sea. The newly minted India-America Connect Initiative involves laying down serious hardware, specifically, new subsea cable routes.
These digital arteries will link India to Singapore, South Africa and Australia. By adding four more strategic fiber-optic routes connecting the U.S. to the Southern Hemisphere, Google is essentially building a “data superhighway” to ensure India’s AI capabilities don’t get stuck in traffic.
Knowing how to use a tool is just as important as owning it. To bridge the gap, Google is launching its most ambitious skilling program yet: the Google AI Professional Certificate. This program is designed to help the workforce master AI without needing a PhD in robotics.
With full-stack connectivity and a massive investment on the table, India isn’t just joining the AI race; it’s looking to set the pace.
