MUMBAI: After a promising debut, the fourth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen a 21.8 per cent skid in its ratings over the earlier year.
 
The average rating of the first 26 matches (till 29 March) has dropped to 4.3 TVR, as per data from TAM Sports for the 6 Metros. The average ratings in the 2010 edition stood at 5.5 TVR for the first 26 matches.
 
In fact, the 2010 edition was the most successful one. The debut season’s average for the same number of matches was at 5.3 TVR, which dropped in 2009 to 4.73 TVR. However, the 2009 edition was played in South Africa and the timings were not suitable for primetime viewing.
 
As far as IPL4 goes, the 10 matches played during the week ended 23 April fetched an average TVR of 4.2 TVR. The match played between Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings got the maximum, earning a TVR of 6.7.

The lowest viewed match during the week was between Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils (2.15 TVR). In fact, it got the lowest ratings among all the matches played so far this year.

Meanwhile, the impact of IPL was still visible on the Hindi general entertainment channels. For the third consecutive week, the Hindi GEC genre lost GRPs (gross rating points).

Barring Colors and Sab, which added nine and four GRPs respectively, all other GECs shed some GRPs during the week. However, the pecking order remained the same as the previous week.

Star Plus stayed at the top but lost 19 GRPs to close the week ended 23 April with 300, while Colors was at No. 2 with 227 GRPs. Zee TV followed with 193 GRPs (from 197 in the previous week).

Sony Entertainment Television remained at No. 4 with 145 GRPs (146 GRPs in week ago), while sister channel Sab narrowd the gap further with 139 GRPs.

Imagine TV was at 61 GRPs ( from 68 GRPs), while Star One and Sahara One clocked 36 and 29 GRPs during the week.