By SONALI KRISHNA
Indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: After a phase of lull and lackluster performance by Sony's big-ticket show Indian Idol, the show has finally kicked back into action hitting the 27th (Thursday) and the 29th (Friday) spot respectively in the TAM Top 100 for the week 19 to 25 December '04.

The surge in the ratings come from Idol having arrived at the last lap. The final 11 contestants will now be further trimmed down episode by episode by the viewers which makes it even more exciting and adrenaline pumping.

Coming to the figures that the first gala round garnered, the show stands at 3.9 TVR in the CS 4+ all India market. In the Hindi speaking markets CS 4+ the 23 December episode received a 5.5 TVR and the 24 December episode received a 5.4 TVR according to TAM data.

Talking about specific Hindi speaking markets Delhi clocked a 8.92 TVR, Mumbai a 7.64 TVR and Kolkata a 4.94 TVR.

Says Sony Business head Tarun Katial, " " The show has reached the last stage of the countdown and this a phase that will weave anxiousness and excitement taking the show to its peak. This and more. Also, the marketing endeavour as well as the emotional connect that the show brings with is is one big factor that has pumped up the figures."

Katial also pointed out that a total of four million votes were received during the voting of the show which has proved that the show has managed to pack in a high a amount of interactivity and hence the connect with the show being much higher.

The show now breaks into three phases where the first phase will focus on the last ten, nine and eight contestants, the second on the seven, six and five, the third phase focussing on the last four contestants. The channel is also planning a lot of innovations that will revolve around the show. What is on the agenda currently is the 'Idols' going through a make-over, a performance conducted by them for the nation on 26 January. A campaign trail across the country side and eventually every contestant promoting their cause as as the Indian Idol. Talking about whether the Show will consolidate at this level or a further surge is expected, Katial said that he expected this and more.

The result episode which currently follows a half hour format will eventually become a one-hour format. Another show that Katial pointed out was launching was Dance Dance which is scheduled to debut in mid-January. The details of the show were however not divulged.

Although, what remains to be seen is whether the 'Idol Gala Phase' will keep up its momentum and manage to sustain its overall position and ratings ensuring its advertisers a true jackpot and the channel its next much awaited channel driver.