GECs
Star Plus ‘Tu Mera Hero’ is the biggest fiction launch of 2014
MUMBAI: The numbers have spoken! Star Plus, India’s No.1 Hindi General Entertainment channel continued its strong run to end the year with 596 GTVMs . In the last week of the year, the channel strengthened its content with the launch of a new Rom Com – Tu Mera Hero – which recorded the highest opening of the year 2014. The show which premiered on 22 December 2014 at the 8 pm time slot, opened at a staggering 7.3 TVM. This is by far the highest for any fiction show launch in 2014.
The unique launch promos of the show featuring a lazy but charming new hero, created buzz right from the day they hit the TV screens and culminated in the strong launch week numbers.
The show brings to light the lives of Titu, a lazy yet extremely humorous and charming guy and Panchi, the lovestruck heroine.
Commenting on this, a channel spokesperson said, “The year 2014 has been very good for STAR Plus. This year has been one of innovative new content from Star Plus with shows like Everest, Airlines, Nisha aur Uske Cousins, Ek Hasina Thi and India’s Rawstar. For most of the last few weeks we have also had the top 3 fiction shows on HGE with Diya aur Baati Hum, Ye Hai Mohabbatein and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. We are delighted to have closed the have closed year on a strong note with Tu Mera Hero, which is another example of our strong content brought to life with exciting marketing. We are confident that we’ll continue to build on this in the New Year as well!”
Interestingly Star Plus also held the record for the best fiction launch for 2013 with Mahabharat, which was in fact the best launch Hindi GECs had seen for more than 5 years. The show’s marketing was widely acknowledged as amongst the most successful ever for a TV show and now Star Plus has repeated that with Tu Mera Hero.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
