GECs
Big Ganga creates history – IBFA 2019 highest ever rated programme in the category
MUMBAI: It was another feather in BIG Ganga’s cap, as the no.1 Bhojpuri GEC channel broke all viewership records in the category till date. The very prestigious and glamorous International Bhojpuri Film Awards, hosted in Singapore by Big Ganga, which was telecast on 31st Dec 2019, witnessed 3X viewership in week 53 alone as compared to an average of previous 4 weeks, which is also the highest-ever recorded mark in the Bhojpuri category till date. With such resounding numbers, BIG Ganga IBFA 2019 emerged as a clear winner with the highest viewership of 1,254 (000), leaving its counterpart who also telecast their own set of awards on 31st Dec, far behind by garnering almost double the viewership in the same slots. The current feat also is higher compared to the previous edition of the IBFA awards ever hosted in the category by any channel. The event garnered a staggering reach of 4962 and remarkable TSV of 43.39 mins, which once again is stand out in the category for events hosted till date.
Bringing the year to the perfect end in a gala celebration of the Bhojpuri industry, IBFA 2019 turned out to be the biggest hit of the season which was loved by audiences aplenty in the region. This awards ceremony rendered a perfect mixture of festivity and felicitation with celebrities from Bhojiwood and Bollywood coming together and mesmerizing viewers with their astonishing performances. The extravaganza was hosted by eminent personalities such as Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari, Dinesh Lal Yadav, Aamrapali Dubey and Madhu Sharma whereas was attended by actors like Pawan Singh, Chintu Pandey, Kajal Raghwani, Sapna Gill, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda along with Bollywood Stars like Sunny Deol, Sunny Leone, Zarine Khan among others. The audience, present in thousands comprised of Bhojpuris and natives of Singapore, President of Bhojpuri Association in Singapore and special guest – Mr. Jawed Ashraf, High Commissioner of India in Singapore who hails from Ara, Bihar and has a strong Bhojpuri connect. The enthralling spirit of the evening witnessed the High Commissioner breaking into an extempore speaking about the glory and rising power of Bhojpuri culture across the globe – evoking pride and thunderous claps from the audience across aisles.
Amarpreet Singh Saini, Business Head, BIG Ganga said, “BIG Ganga has always been at the forefront when it comes to understanding the requirements of its viewers. With IBFA 2019 breaking all records and creating history, is a testament to the fact that we have once again successfully brought content for the audience which they actually want to consume. We have always believed in experimenting with content and moving ahead in the game with a different strategy each time. The ratings proves that while our competitors in the market also telecast Bhojpuri awards, BIG Ganga brought newness to the awards show by taking a GLOCAL (Global yet local) approach.”
Speaking about the achievement, Samrat Ghosh, Cluster Business Head said, “This has been a tremendous achievement where BIG Ganga has not only set a benchmark again in the Bhojpuri industry but also left all its counterparts far behind. Bhojpuri is a rapidly-growing language and the entertainment industry has grown many folds in recent times. The humungous viewership numbers not only depicts the success story of IBFA, but brings forward the fact that Bhojpuri content is going beyond boundaries with there being a huge market for it. We aim to create more original content and cater to the audience with our unmatched offerings.”
The channel took a 360-degree approach to market the awards property and reached out to its audience via various mediums mention mediums. BIG Ganga’s shows enthrall and entertain audiences with its unique content, thereby making this platform apt for the whole family. Going forward with Q4 new offerings, the channel is already lining up exciting topical properties to further deepen its bond with its audience. Enhancing and enriching regional pride through upcoming new offerings of the biggest event of Holi – Faguaa, unique cookery show – Roj Hoyi Bhoj #SwadKeSaath, MemSaab, the brand is all geared to catering to the deep pockets of the region with multiple genres of content.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
