Beats General Entertainment Channels and News Channels
to emerge as the undisputed choice of viewers on Counting Day in Kolkata
with Highest Market Share, Channel Share and Time Spent
All Top 10 news programmes in TAM Week 19 on STAR Ananda
Bengali television viewers voted with their remotes on Counting
Day and delivered a flattering verdict for credibility, programming
and quality of coverage, selecting STAR Ananda as the undisputed
# 1 television channel in 'any category' in Kolkata. STAR Ananda
scored as the # 1 watched TV Channel on counting day with a 30%
marketshare ahead of ETV Bangla and Aakaash Bangla (both GEC Channels)
and far ahead of the rest of the news television world with Kolkata
TV's 7% and 24 Ghanta TV's 5% (amongst all Bengali Channels). Channel
Share was again tops for STAR Ananda at 15.59 ahead of ETV Bangla,
Aakaash Bangla and Kolkata TV according to the latest TAM ratings
(May 11th 2006; CS 15+). On the important parameter of Time Spent
too, STAR Ananda scored at the top of the list at 54 minutes to
ETV Bangla and far ahead of the next news contender CNBC-TV18 and
Kolkata TV.
STAR Ananda scored with 58% marketshare amongst all news channels
on Counting Day in Kolkata and in All of West Bengal at 55%, thus
reiterating that despite the initial buzz of new launches, when
it comes to credible news delivered on the biggest day of West Bengal
elections, the people of Kolkata and indeed West Bengal only trust
and watch STAR Ananda. Little wonder then that STAR Ananda delivered
with all Top 10 news programmes for the entire TAM Week 19 on STAR
Ananda in Kolkata and West Bengal (CS15+; May 7-13, 2006; TAM)!
Meanwhile, a quick snapshot of the other big ticket events of the
Bengal elections - Exit Polls - reveals that STAR Ananda is ahead
of its closest news competitor by at least 2 times over. In the
5-stage polls, the All of West Bengal figures reveal that STAR Ananda
scored with a 33% marketshare in the 1st of the Exit Polls on the
15th of April against Kolkata TV's 15% and Aaj Tak's 12%; on the
22nd of April STAR Ananda scored with 42% vis-à-vis 24 Ghanta
TV's 14% and Kolkata TV's 11%; on the 27th of April, STAR Ananda
was ahead at 41% against 24 Ghanta TV's 18 % and Kolkata TV's 17%;
on the 3rd of May STAR Ananda again decimated the competition with
a 32% marketshare against 24 Ghanta TV's 16% and Kolkata TV's 13%;
on the 8th of May STAR Ananda scored at 32% vs. Kolkata TV's 16%
and 24 Ghanta TV's 14%; and finally on the counting day on 11th
of May STAR Ananda closed with a whopping 55% marketshare, nearly
4 times ahead of closest competitor Kolkata TV at 14% and 24 Ghanta
TV at 9%!
The impressive showing for STAR Ananda comes on the heels of several
new Channel launches and programming initiatives. The West Bengal
legislative elections were meant to be an acid test for news media
in a very politically aware West Bengal. STAR Ananda has thus received
a thumping endorsement for its positioning as the expression of
the Bengal on the move, and for its mandate as the Voice of the
Bengali.
STAR Ananda has constantly scored with its programming, positioning
and packaging, bravely showcasing the people's point of view. The
recent ratings are merely a huge endorsement of its stand to empower
viewers. Having introduced a paradigm shift in news broadcasting,
this unambiguous success of STAR Ananda will leave much to be desired
from other Channels.
ABOUT STAR Ananda
STAR Ananda is India's First National Bengali News Channel. Introducing
a paradigm shift in the broadcast of regional language news, STAR
Ananda reflects the heritage of an impressive parentage and provides
in-depth and extensive coverage of local, national and global news.
STAR Ananda is broadcast by Media Content & Communications Services
India Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), a 74:26 joint venture between ABP TV - a
100% subsidiary of ABP Pvt. Ltd., and STAR News Broadcasting Ltd.,
wholly-owned subsidiary of the STAR Group; two of the biggest brands
in Indian media. Headquartered in Kolkata and housing state-of-the-art
production facilities, STAR Ananda boasts an extensive bureau network,
bringing to the Bengali viewer unparalleled, comprehensive and incisive
news coverage. With an over 40 per cent majority marketshare in
the Kolkata and West Bengal markets amongst all news channels in
launch week, STAR Ananda continues to consolidate, adequately reflecting
the aspirations of the Bengali people.
| 
