Why Colors Is In Desperate Need of A Change In Programming

The numbers game is as unapologetic as it can get and the sheer idea of having to worry about them every week is exhausting and unforgiving at the same time. That is exactly the scenario that GEC's (General Entertainment Channel) face and like it or not, one has to deal with it.

In the constant battle of beating your rivals, Hindi television works in a way where there have usually been three or four rating toppers amidst a plethora of over nine or ten channels. For over a decade now, that has been Star Plus, Zee TV, Sony TV and Colors with flickers of in-and-out entry from Sony's sister channel, Sony Sab.

However, over the past few months, this battle has been imbalanced to an extent where Star Plus continues to have its supremacy unquestioned, and Sony TV and Sab TV coming in prime positions. The alarming factor, however, has been for Colors channel. With constantly dwindling ratings of multiple shows, the channel currently doesn't have a single show that rakes in exciting numbers that is enough to keep it in the hunt. In this piece, I discuss how the channel desperately needs an entire change of programming and will rely heavily on upcoming reality shows.

Emergence To The Top

With instant winners and the breakout success of Balika Vadhu and a few other shows, Colors TV made a mark like no other GEC managed to in several years. The encouraging fact in that was how it wasn't just a one-time wonder as the channel continued to introduce some good shows that not only brought in the numbers but also longevity, which as we know is paramount on Indian television.

The Naagin and Bigg Boss Factor

The same was only stamped even more with the surprise and behemoth success of Naagin and the several seasons that followed; Bigg Boss changing the channel from Sony TV to Colors and becoming an even bigger show than it previously was. Two of the most mouth-watering prospects for TRPs (Television Rating Points) were exclusively available on Colors and it became a merry trio with the addition of Khatron Ke Khiladi.

The Downfall Began

The biggest indicator of the gradual downfall for the channel has been how some of its most reliable and long-running shows started losing viewership and eventually went off-air. Shows like Udaan and Sasural Simar Ka lost their touch and were pulled off-air only recently. Suddenly, in its programming, the channel did not have a single long-runner and everything felt like it was going back to the basics.

The Debacle of New Shows

To their credit, most of the times, the new shows have indeed worked wonders and managed to create an impact enough to have a decent run over the past couple of years. But that graph has bizarrely been going down in the past six months or so, where Tantra, Vish Ya Amrit - Sitara, Khoob Ladi Mardaani - Jhansi Ki Rani, Kesari Nandan, Dastaan-E-Mohobbat: Salim Anarkali, Belan Wali Bahu and Laado 2 among many others have bombed to an extent where none of them managed to have a respectable amount of runtime. Everything seemed haywire with the choices and nothing clicked.

It May Not Get Better For Now

What is even worse that the current line-up of the channel isn't too delighting too, where the only relatively long-running Shakti... Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii is surviving and Choti Sardarni is bringing decent numbers. All the other shows are struggling to strike a chord with the viewers and we wonder if anything is going to get better.

Change of Programming

A while ago, there were rumors about how the channel is planning to undergo a complete revamp with all the shows being pulled off-air except a couple. They certainly need to act on it as soon as possible as they don't have much of past glory to ride on. Except for Naagin, Bigg Boss, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Dance Deewane and Shakti, the channel certainly needs to go back to the drawing board and start everything afresh.

Riding On Upcoming Reality Shows 

Currently, on a similar path like Sony TV, Colors is relying on upcoming seasons of reality shows to do wonders and put them back in the top tier. With Bigg Boss Season 13 promo out and Khatron Ke Khiladi's upcoming season being shot, it does have a breathing space to not worry about the times they will actually be on-air. To make things better, Naagin 4 is also confirmed and should roll by November 2019. Apart from the usuals and shows that only come in seasons, a Hindi GEC runs on daily soaps that one watches day-in and day-out. That is the current struggle for Colors which needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

What do you think about the same? Should the channel indeed have a revamp? Leave in your comments below.