Due to the TV workers’ strike and terror attacks in Mumbai, the Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) had been hit badly.

As a result, channels saw an average fall by 35-55% in prime time viewership.

After the controversial strike finally called off, the ratings started rising gradually, and this time the commencing of new shows add much to the ‘TRPs’ than fresh episodes of existing shows for major GECs.

The Hindi GEC genre, for the 49th week of the year (November 30-December 6), registered a sharp jump to 1,066 gross rating points (GRPs) from the low of 661 GRPs during the previous week.

Accordingly, the major entertainment channel Star Plus has gained tremendously. The channel has once again bounced back to number-one spot with 263 GRPs during the week ended 6 December.

As per TAM data, C&S, 4+, HSM for week ending Saturday 6th December, Colors, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Viacom18 basket, stood at the number two position with 213 GRPs, while Zee TV with 189 GRPs stood third, followed by Sony Entertainment Television with 82 GRPs.

Other competitors in the list include, Star One stood at the fifth place with 73 GRPs while NDTV Imagine (62 GRPs) is next, followed by Sahara One (46 GRPs) and Sab (45 GRPs).

9X was the only Hindi entertainment channel not to add any fresh content - its audience hovered around 44 GRPs.

STAR Plus' ‘Bidaai’ is the most watched show bagging 7.97 TVR accompanied by Colors' ‘Balika Vadhu’ at 7.18. Jai Shri Krishna is on the third spot with 4.99 TVR. ‘Aap Ki Kachehri’ presented by Kiran Bedi and the replacement of ‘Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ received 3.98 TVR and is on fourth place.

GRPs are the summation of all ratings recorded during the 24-hour period on every channel and are the currency used by the media planners for deciding the popularity of the channels. This in turn affects the advertising spot rates on these channels.