It is very well-known that whenever a GEC show on TV needs an upliftment with regards to ratings, the only way out is drama, drama and more drama that will bring in new twists in the plot!! Well, this time, it seems like the cricketing world has also adapted to this formula and has spiced up the cricketing extravaganza in India during the summers, IPL (Indian Premier League) with mind-blowing drama and never-anticipated twists!!
Yes, IPL 2022 has been huge with respect to crowd pull, both at the stadiums in Mumbai and Pune and also in the living rooms of cricketing fans all over the globe.
The big twists hovering around the IPL’s new season started with a big auction that was held in February this year. But even before that, one new development was already introduced in the form of the inclusion of two new teams – Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). When all the teams got to battle it out at the auction after releasing all their players (except 3-4), the big question of who will buy whom was made interesting!!
Now, with the IPL 2022 in full swing, and being in its final stage before the big Playoff, we have to tell you that the season’s IPL has made a big noise, to the extent of rattling the Hindi GEC shows, which to a greater extent remained unaffected for varied reasons, in the last two years!!
Yes, there has been a major dip in ratings across all GECs, the big reason for this being the ongoing IPL drama.
The big shows and their ratings on Hindi GEC read like this in the first week of March 2022 (released on 3 March to be precise).
Anupamaa 3.5
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin 3.1
Imlie 2.8
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 2.6
Yeh Hai Chahatein 2.6
Kumkum Bhagya 2.3
Udaariyaan 2.2
Kundali Bhagya 2.1
Naagin 6 2.0
Pandya Store 1.8
This clearly showed that the GEC shows and their twists were flourishing. The shows kickstarted bigger and better drama to cope with the IPL pressure.
But nothing of this worked for the shows and their ratings. We are now well and truly on course, in the month of May, to see final action in IPL 2022, before the drama of the Playoffs. And trust us as we say this, the last two months have been the most difficult phase for the entertainment industry, especially on the small screen. Ratings of even the top shows have tumbled, and this pattern has been seen throughout the IPL phase till now.
This week (12 May), the GEC ratings stand like this.
Anupamaa 3.0 (had even touched 2.9 in April)
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin 2.4
Imlie 2.1
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 2.2
Yeh Hai Chahatein 2.0
Kumkum Bhagya 1.6
Kundali Bhagya 1.5
Udaariyaan 1.4
Naagin 6 1.6
Pandya Store 1.4
There is a shocking dip in all the top-rated shows across all GECs. Many shows like Mithai, Woh Toh Hai Albelaa, Spy Bahu, Gud Se Meetha Ishq etc which were launched just before or after the start of IPL have failed to start with decent numbers. Well, in between the top-rated shows and the new launches, many shows across GECs that were doing decently well, have nosedived to the bottom in numbers.
All of these facts force us to ponder over one big question – What have been the most eye-catching aspects of IPL this year? Why have the ratings of shows across GECs dropped with the onset of IPL 2022?
We at IWMBuzz.com run through an analysis.
IPL 2022, we can say, is when the rebirth of teams happened!! The big shuffle and auctions only meant that the core members of every team in IPL got disturbed in one way or the other. Agreed, some teams have retained and have bought back the same bunch of players, but the shuffle has indeed given rise to newer chapters in many players’ lives under new franchises. Cricket has this time, taken up the policy of TV shows, by introducing new teams (in the case of shows, new characters) to bring in a new drama.
Also, the monotony that every season of IPL had with the dominance and supremacy of teams Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians has been undone this year. With both CSK and MI starting the season very badly and being placed at the bottom of the table even now, there has been a huge rise in curiosity among the cricketing fans.
Factors like teams playing under new captains, the introduction of new teams, underdogs like Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad starting the tournament well, have indeed kept the cricket fans busy this season!
Now, when we are just a week or so away from the Playoffs, can you believe that we have only one team (GT) that has well and truly managed to cross the qualification criteria of being part of the Playoffs? Yes, theoretically, the contest is still wide open for at least six teams for making it to the Playoffs. Only teams CSK, MI and KKR have lost the battle, with others remaining in contention.
Also, even the possibility of the battered teams like CSK, MI and KKR coming out with exceptional performances, to drown a bigger team’s future prospects of making it to the playoffs cannot be erased. All of this will be seen in the days to come.
Certainly, this time, the drama and twists that the IPL season has provided are rated higher than the drama and twists that we have found in GEC shows. This only speaks of the drop that Hindi TV shows have seen from April to May 2022.
Cheers to IPL, for being the ultimate victors this year!! The show will indeed go on in TV shows, as they will be back with more of the planning and plotting next year!! (wink wink)
