MUMBAI: The debut episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati on Sony Entertainment Television (Set) has clocked a TVR of 5.3 in the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The launch episode witnessed a peak TVR of 8.2. The Amitabh Bachchan-hosted game show has attracted both female and male audiences. The reach for the initial episode stood at 15.9 per cent, while time spent on the show was 32 minutes.

The launch date of the game show, in its fourth season, coincided with host Amitabh Bachchan‘s birthday.

KBC4, however, got lower opening ratings in the three metros than the previous three seasons on Star Plus. As per Tam data for three HSM Metros, the first season of KBC in 2000, which redefined the Indian television viewing and gave Star Plus its leadership position, had clocked a TVR of 11.1. 

The second season saw an even bumper opening with a whopping TVR of 18.5 in 2005. The last season on Star Plus, when Shah Rukh Khan replaced Bachchan as the host, managed an opening TVR of 11.3.

The TV viewing universe, however, has expanded. In 2000, the universe size was 17,216, which expanded to 22,456 in 2005, 36,066 in 2007 and currently stands at 45,388.