MUMBAI: The ratings roost was supposedly ruled by soaps and comedies - most of them from the Star Network, and Doordarshan (DD) was hardly the one to find a place on that perch. But now, it is DD's turn to have the cake and eat it too.
The numbers say it all. TAM television ratings (TVR), for the week spanning 16 November to 22 November 2003 based on a survey of all India cable and satellite households, spell good news for DD, particularly DD Sports.
It is the Australia vs India Final match on 18 November during the L&T TVS Cup Tri-series that has helped DD Sports high jump from its non-starter ratings to the top slot, notching a TVR of 12.8 on the way.
In fact, in a week that's usually too dominated by Star Plus soaps, DD Sports figures not only at the top of the ratings chart, but also marks the chart at the eighth position with a TVR of 8.6 and makes reappearances at intervals to mark its presence on 26th, 27th, 40th, 41st, 69th positions.
The next to make a mark close enough on the same day was Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which managed to get a TVR rating of 10.1 even on a day dominated by an India-Australia Final. The soap claimed the second highest TVR of the week on 19 November 2003. Following close on the heels of Kyunki is another Star Plus soap Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kiiat number four with a TVR of 10.0 on 19 November and Kasautii Zindagii Kay at the sixth position with a TVR of 9.5 on the same day.
Sanjivani, yet another soap on Star Plus, riding on a TVR of 8.5, figures at number nine, while Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand finds a mention at number 14.
If the numbers are to be believed, the ratings seesaw is leaning heavily in Star's favour followed by DD with Sony Entertainment marking the next largest territory on the ratings scene. However, Sony's Jassi makes an appearance only at the 43rd position with a TVR of 3.9 on 20 November followed by reappearances at the 57th and 59th positions.
However, the cake and the cream were taken by DD Sports, which topped the charts thanks to the India Australia Final.