News Broadcasting
‘Bhagat Singh’ pushes Zee ratings into top 50
MUMBAI: Steady would be the best way to describe it. The inaugural film of Zee TV’s blockbuster block may not have set the TRPs on fire, but The Legend of Bhagat Singh did make it to the top 50 in the ratings just out.
According to research agency TAM, all-India results for the 4+ TG gave Bhagat Singh 38th position on the ratings with a TVR of 3.19 as also the 59th position with a TVR of 2.92. The only other Zee shows that made it to the top 100 are Playwin Lucky 3 which had a TVR of 2.53 and Playwin Super Lotto with a TVR of 2.46.
Zee has only be making sporadic entries in the top 100 shows, with the channel failing to make an entry into last week’s ratings at all. The last time it made a splash in the ratings was on 14 August, when Gadar managed a TVR of 5.05 to slide in at 17 on the ratings charts.
A 3.19 rating might seems rather disappointing considering the intense media interest that went into Zee’s latest strategy to take it back into the reckoning in the Hindi entertainment channel stakes. Add the fact that Rs 330 million is the reported acquisition cost for the first 16 movies that Zee has bought. However, two media buyers that indiantelevision.com spoke took a different line on the matter.
According to Ravi Kiran, GM, Starcom Worldwide, a 3.19 TVR for the first week was not too far off the 4 or thereabouts that he he was expecting. Asked to offer a time frame within which he would make a judgment on whether this strategy was working as pulling in viewers to sample the other fare that Zee had on offer, Kiran said such assessments could only be made in the sixth or seventh week.
Harsha Joshi, senior director, Madison Communications, also voiced similar sentiments saying that the more popular films like Humraaz (the second of Thursday Premiere series) and Mujse Dosti Karoge would probably bring in higher ratings. According to Joshi, once the concept had sunk in, an average rating of at least 7 could be deemed as satisfactory.
Satisfactory maybe, but way off what would be required to shake up the soap queens that are ruling the ratings charts at present.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
