Social Media's craze is evident in today's times. Almost everyone seems to be having themselves broadcasted here so how can our TV shows lag behind? Almost every TV show has a fanclub. Also the fans of the popular shows spread the word to make them more popular and loved. But does the popularity of a TV show on Social Media guarantees Success? Not Exactly ! The medium of Television is huge and much wider we can Imagine. True there's no doubt that Social Media has totally taken over the temperature of Internet but when it comes to Judging a show on its success, its a completely different ballgame.
Let's talk about Sony Channel first, It has launched some big shows in the past like Ek Duje Ke Vaaste, Bade Bhaiya Ki Dulhania which despite their novelty in concepts went off air Soon. Both the shows were quite a rage on social media. Also Sony's other shows like Beyhadh, Ek Rishta Sajhedaari ka, Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi all are doing extremely well on Social Media when it comes to trending and all. But the show that's giving them real competition is 'SankatVimochan Hanuman' A show which barely exists on Social Media. It has consistently done well ever since it was launched and held its ground pretty strong against the other shows. Surprisingly, some people don't even know that it exists in Social Media world. Also the recently launched Indian Idol is doing well but has no place on Social Media popularity despite having 3 very well known Judges from Bollywood Industry. Similarly, Crime Patrol is their flagship show that runs on daily basis but you would barely find anyone talking about it on regular basis online.
Star Plus shows mostly do well on Social Media because of its reach. Even if the show doesn't get TRP's its likely to rake in the moolah on popularity. All of their shows have a good fan base - Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Chandra Nandini, Suhani si Ek Ladki, Yeh Rishta and so on..all of them are good. But even the channel didn't shied away to experiment with different concepts like Sumeet Sambhal Lega, Everest, Gulmohar Grand, Tamanna so on..these shows couldn't find a base on Social Media but did manage to stick along on TV even if it was for a short period.
Coming to colors, If you check out the Show Udaan on Social Media there is no much heat for it against the other shows that are far more popular. But look at its growth, it's consistently making way into Top 10 and knocking out the biggies like Swargini, Thapki, Kasam and so on.... The Channel's reach and the show of the concept plays bigger Importance than Social Media. Also the fact that Colors big budget reality shows - Jhalak and Bigg Boss where they are spending so much on the promotions and marketing. They did make noise on Social Media but commercially they both were duds this year. Despite millions of tweets and facebook posts, A large section of audiences stayed away from both the shows.
But the biggest trendsetters in this case are the channels LIFE OK, & TV and SAB TV. Most of their shows doing well do not have a great fan base. But people do watch them. For LIKE OK, we can find a show that trends on people's minds - Savdhaan India, May I come in Madam etc however Rajni_Kant seems to have done well on that account but now its also going OFF AIR. The channel's recently launched show Ghulaam might be hit online because of its respective 3 leads who are known on Social Media. But the channel's power doesn't depend on it. It's clocking on TRP's strongly without the base of Fan Clubs. For Example - May I Come in Madam, No one really thought this show would show growth, survive and how.
Coming to &TV the case is similar to LIFE OK. however, their show Gangaa seems to be quite popular on Social Media in overseas. Also, Bhabhi Ji ghar par hain has also some base. But the show that has consistently doing good is Santoshi Maa which doesn't even exist on the chart of Fan Clubs. The ditto goes for SAB TV. The channel has such a huge viewership and has been challenging its Sister GEC Sony for years just on the account of its comedy shows. People watch them, enjoy them but do not express online. This is how it is. Known Young faces and their chemistry bring people on board but TRP's are something very difficult to calculate.
Also, given the fact that most of the viewership of such shows comes from household wives and homely women who aren't much driven on Social Media. The youth stays active but their Interest in these shows regularly is something hard to decipher. No doubt it's the elder family women that takes up the charge to respond in viewership of a TV show. At last, the conclusion is reached that a TV show shouldn't be looked down upon if its not accepted or loved on Facebook or Twitter. The concept of the show should be Judged first.
Written by - Mridul