With controversial contestants, weird tasks, bizarre fights and superstar hosts, Bigg Boss has dominated TV screens for the three-to four-month period that it comes on air, for the past eight years. This money-minting machine for Colors TV manages to create headlines not only during the months of its telecast but through the year--be it speculation about the contestants or conjecture about whether Salman Khan will be hosting the new season or not.
However, this year, things aren't the same. The controversial show, which had a great run for at least five years (since Salman Khan took over as the host and Pakistani siren Veena Malik and Bollywood actor Ashmit Patel set the temperatures soaring with their PDA in 2010), seems to be struggling in its current season. That seems to be the reason the producers of the show and the TV channel have made changes to its format and airing time.Also read: Priya urinates inside a car to win immunity
Change No. 1: Format
If you watch the show regularly, you might have noticed that the duration of the episode has been cut down from 45 minutes to 35 minutes. According to reports, the channel decided to shorten the show's air time in order to give more airing time to their recently launched show Naagin, which is garnering fans. Naagin is currently the most watched show on Hindi general entertainment channels according to data from BARC India for the week starting Saturday, 28th November 2015 to Friday, 4th December 2015. Will the gamble of sacrificing a reality TV show that enjoys a decent fan following for a new one, pay off? Only time will tell.
If you watch the show regularly, you might have noticed that the duration of the episode has been cut down from 45 minutes to 35 minutes. According to reports, the channel decided to shorten the show's air time in order to give more airing time to their recently launched show Naagin, which is garnering fans. Naagin is currently the most watched show on Hindi general entertainment channels according to data from BARC India for the week starting Saturday, 28th November 2015 to Friday, 4th December 2015. Will the gamble of sacrificing a reality TV show that enjoys a decent fan following for a new one, pay off? Only time will tell.
Change No. 2: Elimination Process
Over the past two weeks, the elimination episodes are now aired on Monday instead of Sunday. This means the weekend episodes with Salman Khan are spread across Saturday, Sunday and Monday and since there is little debate that many viewers watch the show primarily because of Khan, the producers have tried to extend his star power by stretching his presence across not two but three episodes. However, according to reports, the elimination episodes were shifted from Sunday and Monday because the housemates were taking too much time to complete tasks and therefore needed that extra day. Well, for a viewer (who is not a die-hard Salman fan) it really doesn't help because once the elimination is done (and the news leaks out, thanks to the internet), the interest is lost. Also read: Five take-aways from Salman Khan, Rimi Sen grilling session
Not that the show hasn't tried its level best to maintain viewers interest. In fact, the present season has seen a lot more outrageous acts than the last 8 seasons combined. From peeing in a sipper to throwing urine on each other, to erotic dance performances (a lap dance and a pole dance were shown in recent episodes), season 9 could easily be called the most daring season so far. Still, the show failed to become a rage, a la season 7 and season 8. According to data released by BARC India, which measures TRPs of TV channels and shows, Bigg Boss does not feature even in the top five list of the most popular shows on Hindi GECs for the entire month of November. So what went wrong? Also read: Deepika Padukone is the new Bigg Boss
Over the past two weeks, the elimination episodes are now aired on Monday instead of Sunday. This means the weekend episodes with Salman Khan are spread across Saturday, Sunday and Monday and since there is little debate that many viewers watch the show primarily because of Khan, the producers have tried to extend his star power by stretching his presence across not two but three episodes. However, according to reports, the elimination episodes were shifted from Sunday and Monday because the housemates were taking too much time to complete tasks and therefore needed that extra day. Well, for a viewer (who is not a die-hard Salman fan) it really doesn't help because once the elimination is done (and the news leaks out, thanks to the internet), the interest is lost. Also read: Five take-aways from Salman Khan, Rimi Sen grilling session
Not that the show hasn't tried its level best to maintain viewers interest. In fact, the present season has seen a lot more outrageous acts than the last 8 seasons combined. From peeing in a sipper to throwing urine on each other, to erotic dance performances (a lap dance and a pole dance were shown in recent episodes), season 9 could easily be called the most daring season so far. Still, the show failed to become a rage, a la season 7 and season 8. According to data released by BARC India, which measures TRPs of TV channels and shows, Bigg Boss does not feature even in the top five list of the most popular shows on Hindi GECs for the entire month of November. So what went wrong? Also read: Deepika Padukone is the new Bigg Boss
1. Weak celebrity contestants: A successful season of Bigg Boss requires contestants who belong to one of these three categories: 1. A has-been star; someone who was once at the top and is now down in the dumps. 2. Someone from a film family who hasn't been able to make it to the top. 3. A celebrity with a controversial past. 4. Someone who is infamous for his/her volatile nature. 5. Someone with a foreign origin tag. Now, think about the contestants of season 9. No one fits the bill. If you're calling Rimi Sen a superstar, we can't help you.
2. Too many unexciting wild card contestants: Bigg Boss 9 is only half-way through, and it has already seen six wild card entries. But Rishabh Sinha, Priya Malik or Kanwaljit are nowhere close to Dolly Bindra, Imam Siddiqui, Sunny Leone or Ali Quli Mirza, the wild card entries of previous seasons. Not much can be expected from Nora Fatehi and Gisele Thakral, either.
3. Late time slot: Let's face it. 10:30 pm is the worst time to expect maximum viewership. It may suit people living in big cities, but not the audience of small cities and towns. For all the liberties the makers have taken by airing adult or PG15+ content (erotic dances, smooches etc.) on the show in a hope to amp up TRPs, a major chunk of viewers might not have seen it at all. Moreover, with smartphones, websites, and apps, plus the channel's live streaming on its own website, one really doesn't need to stay up to watch the episode on TV.
3. Late time slot: Let's face it. 10:30 pm is the worst time to expect maximum viewership. It may suit people living in big cities, but not the audience of small cities and towns. For all the liberties the makers have taken by airing adult or PG15+ content (erotic dances, smooches etc.) on the show in a hope to amp up TRPs, a major chunk of viewers might not have seen it at all. Moreover, with smartphones, websites, and apps, plus the channel's live streaming on its own website, one really doesn't need to stay up to watch the episode on TV.
0 comments:
Post a Comment