BENGALURU: Two of the Ekta Kapoor headed BalajiTelefims Limited soaps on competing networks and channels were the most watched primetime programmes during the first 22 weeks of calendar year 2017. One is a supernatural drama series and the other a family soap. This paper is based on the analysis of Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) ratings data from the weekly list of top five programmes in the Hindi GEC (HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : Prime Time (1800 - 2330 hrs) : 2+ Individuals); Hindi GEC – Rural (HSM (Rural) : NCCS All : Prime Time (1800 - 2330 hrs) : 2+ Individuals); and the Hindi GEC – Urban (HSM (Urban) : NCCS All : Prime Time (1800 - 2330 hrs) : 2+ Individuals) spaces.

Naagin 2, on Network 18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors, has been present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 five Hindi GEC programmes during all the first 22 weeks of 2017, as was KumkumBhagya on Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV.  Both the programmes were continuations from 2016.

Naagin 2 started off at the top of the charts right from the first week of 2017 as far as the Hindi GEC (Urban+Rural) genre is concerned.Naagin 2 was ranked first for 13 of the first 22 weeks of 2017, second for 8 of the first 22 weeks of 2017 and third for one week of 2017. However, with the onset of the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 10 or IPL 2017), the programme seems to have lost some of its sheen on the viewership numbers front. The programme has garnered combined weekly impressions (CWI) of 252.084 million impressions (sums) during the first 22 weeks of 2017 in the Hindi GEC (Urban+Rural) genre.

Naagin 2 is also aired on Network 18’s second Hindi GEC Rishtey. On Rishtey, Naagin 2 was present for 8 of the first 22 weeks of 2017 in the weekly list of top five Hindi GEC (Urban+Rural) programmes at ranks 3, 4 and 5 on different weeks. On Rishtey, Naagin 2 had CWI of 75.340 million impressions while it was present in the top 5 Hindi GEC (Urban+Rural) genre. It must be noted that the actual sum of all the weekly impressions garnered by Naagin 2 were much higher if the weekly impressions of all the weeks during which it was aired on Rishtey are taken into accont.

KumkumBhagya started sedately in week 1 of 2017, and it has generally shown slowly increasing viewership growth, during the first 22 weeks of 2017, even during the weeks that IPL 10 was aired. The programme garnered CWI of 242.145 million during the first of 2017 in the Hindi GEC(Urban+Rural) market. KumkumBhagya was ranked 1 for seven of the first 22 weeks of 2017, second for 11 of the first 22 weeks of 2017, third and fifth once each and fourth twice during the first 22 weeks of 2017.

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Naagin 2 was also the most watched programme in the weekly lists of the Top 5 Hindi GEC - Rural and Hindi GEC - Urban programmes during the first 22 weeks of 2017. It was present in the top five  programmes for the Hindi GEC Rural market for 16 of the first 22 weeks of 2017, with a total presence of 20 ranks across both of Network 18’s Hindi GEC channels – Colors as well as Rishtey.

Naagin 2 was present in all the weekly list of the top 5 Hindi GEC - Urban programmes during all the first 22 weeks of 2017. It was ranked one for 18 of first 22 weeks, second and fourth for one week each and third for two weeks during the first 22 weeks of 2017.

KumkumBhagya was present in the weekly lists of the Top 5 Hindi GEC - Rural programmes during 13 of first 22 weeks of 2017. It was ranked first and third for one week each, fourth for four weeks and fifth for seven weeks during the first 22 weeks of 2017. The programme was the third most watched Hindi GEC programme in the Hindi GEC – Rural space, after Naagin 2 and Balaveer on Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) channel Sony Pal

KumkumBhagya was lapped up by Hindi GEC - Urban market- it was present in the weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC Urban during all the first 22 weeks of 2017. It was ranked first for 4 weeks, second for five weeks, third for six weeks and fourth for seven weeks during the first 22 weeks of 2017.