BackAmitabh Bachchan powers KBC debut to top rating
First episode of the sixth season on 7 September clocked a 6.1 television viewership rating, making it the highest for a TV show launch so far this year
Premium(Hindustan Times)
Mumbai/New Delhi: The first episode of the sixth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) on Sony Entertainment Television on 7 September clocked a 6.1 television viewership rating (TVR), making it the highest for a TV show launch so far this year and providing evidence that the drawing power of its star anchor Amitabh Bachchan remains undimmed.
The show airs Friday to Sunday at 8.30pm.
According to data compiled by TAM Media Research and provided by Sony executives, the first episode of the previous edition had a rating of 5.2.
Having Bachchan as a host gives the show a boost and has worked well for it, said a senior executive from Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest passenger car maker and a sponsor.
“He has been away from the small screen as well movies for a while," he said. “So people want to see him. His charisma always draws attention of people."
The high ratings for KBC are also because of the lack of entertainment options currently, he said.
“The main reason for viewership being higher this time is because the Bigg Boss season on Colors hasn’t started yet and there are a lot of dance shows being aired on other channels," said the executive on condition of anonymity. “Other reasons are too much of cricket happening around and not many good movies being released."
Media experts expect ratings to decline over the next few weeks.
“KBC has always clocked higher ratings in comparison with other reality shows," said Nandini Dias, chief operating officer, Lodestar Universal. “In subsequent episodes, the ratings tend to take a dip. This year, we are expecting the ratings to average around 4.5."
Based on the UK game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, the Indian version is produced by Big Synergy, the television production arm of Reliance MediaWorks Ltd. The current season is the third one being aired on Sony. The first three seasons were shown on Star Plus with the 2000 debut one being credited with giving the Rupert Murdoch-owned channel the bump it needed to become the country’s No. 1 general entertainment channel (GEC).
Bachchan has anchored all the seasons except for the third one, which was hosted by fellow Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.
The sixth season will have 57 episodes.
“The channel has made some improvements this year on the show to boost viewership, even in non-metro markets," said Lynn De Souza, chairman and chief executive, Lintas Media Group.
Rohit Gupta, president, Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd, the company that runs Sony Entertainment Television, said, “The show’s positioning this year has helped garner record ratings. We believe the show will continue doing well as it progresses."
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