India TV leapfrogs to first position with sting operation
By Our Corporate Bureau | 30 Mar 2005
After Tehelka became a household name with its sting operation on defence deals created a sensation, another sting operation has succeeded in giving Rajat Sharma's Hindi news channel, India TV undreamt of television rating points (TRPs).
According to data released by TAM for the Hindi-speaking markets in the 15 plus age group in cable and satellite homes, on Sunday March 13, when India TV televised its sting operation 'casting couch' on actor Shakti Kapoor, it managed to beat market leader Aaj Tak in TRPs with a channel share of 22.4 per cent while Aaj Tak was relegated number two with 20.2 per cent market share.
NDTV India and Star News the erstwhile number two and three stood at third and fourth position on the day in question with a market share of 18 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively.
As against this India, TV's market share on the week before on March 6 stood at 7.5 per cent while Aaj Tak showed ad TRPs of 30 per cent.
In the succeeding week, between March 13, 2005, and March 19, 2005, when India TV aired its special sting operation programme on television artist Aman Verma, it attained a viewership share of 11.5 per cent.
However, the channel was back at its fifth position for the succeeding week. Aaj Tak (with 22.9 per cent), NDTV (19.8 per cent) and Star (17 per cent) were the top three.