(3 September 2005 4:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Zee Telefilm Ltd's spiritual offering Zee Jagran has claimed that it enjoys a viewership of 7.3 million viewers, as compared to its nearest competitor Ashtha TV with 7.2 million viewers, in the Hindi speaking market. Other channels in the genre Sanskar and Sadhna stood at 6.6 and 2.1 million viewers respectively. (Source Tam Report, Week 35, 4+, Hindi Speaking Market).

The channel also asserts that it had been able to grow the overall viewership of the spiritual genre, over the last 18 months, attracting the non conventional and comparatively younger audience from age groups 25 plus. The main reason according to the channel, for its constant growth is innovative programming concepts, deep focus on slick packaging elements, secular vision, and firm control on its ground distribution.

With the objective to maintain the freshness, Zee Jagran adopted a new look two weeks back , giving the channel a make over in every sense. We began by introducing our new channel ID on the theme of "positive energy" with the use of symbolic elements like Flowing water, Pyramid, Buddha, Chakras and Lotus petals.

With special focus on channel packaging, new musical fillers like Bhakti Sagar, Bhajnanjali and Geetanjali are introduced. A new look has been given to some of the channel's popular shows Jagran Iss Hafte, The Tarot Show and Flavours of Faith, states an official release.

The channel has also introduced thematic time bands which were termed as per the channel positioning, whch is, a) Mystic Morning, b) Awakened Afternoon, c) Enlightened Evening and d) Nirvana at 9, each begins with Ganesh Vandana followed by the programs relevant for that time band, the release adds.

The new properties Jagran has introduced include The Great Indian Astro Show, Monthly Thematic Film Festival, live shows, special programs on the lost but not forgotten saints of our land - Buddha and Kabir, yatra's to holy destinations like - Amarnath and Kailash Mansarover.

The channel also telecasts documentaries made with the support of NGO's like Prayaas which are working for the upliftment of the under-privileged of Bawana. Also there was a special feature on Bhopal gas tragedy victims. Another addition to the line-up was the golden words of Osho (now in Hindi). Special episodes of Sri Sri Ravishankar and international episodes of Brahmakumaris were also aired in the channel recently.