Why Colors Is In Desperate Need of A Change In Programming
And a lot of it rides on Bigg Boss 13
Published: Sunday,Aug 25, 2019 10:27 AM GMT-06:00
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.
![1](https://img.indiaforums.com/media/480x0/45/8746-1.jpg)
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.
![2](https://img.indiaforums.com/media/480x0/45/8747-2.jpg)
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.
![3](https://img.indiaforums.com/media/480x0/45/8748-3.jpg)
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.
![5](https://img.indiaforums.com/media/480x0/45/8749-5.jpg)
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.
![4](https://img.indiaforums.com/media/480x0/45/8750-4.jpg)
What do you think about the same? Should the channel indeed have a revamp? Leave in your comments below.
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Comments (17)
Used to watch a lot of old shows. These new are crap. First of allmyfav vas Sasural Simark Ka not beacuse of storyline beacuse of Roli n Siddhant Avika Gor n Manish Raisingham chemestry. Its all about lead jodis.
4 years ago
Naagin is only supernatural show the audiences are interested in and want to see more. So I think they should stick to what's good for them, and make a new spin-off show title 'Naagmani' from Naagin, to expanse the world of Ichchadhari Nag, with that new title it will leave more room for more story not only about naagins, but also about naags and the people revolve around naagmani, more thrill and action with both naags and naagins.
5 years ago
I used to watch Uttaran, Parichay, Internet Wala Love, Swaragini, Tu Aashiqui, Roop on Colors. Colors should have any of these actresses as the main face in their daily shows: Fenil Umrigar, Jigyasa Singh, Preetika Rao, Sonal Vengurlekar, Aparna Dixit, Nidhi Shah, Shrenu Parikh, Shivani Surve, Kreetika Sharma, Tanya Sharma, Shruti Kanwar, Rose Sardana, Vaishnavi Rao, Krisann Baretto, Sheen Dass, Tunisha Sharma, Tejasswi Prakash, Ashi Singh, Kanchi Singh, Donal Bisht, Tanvi Dogra, Sonia Balani, Ekta Kaul, Jannat Jubair, Richa Mukherjee, Nikki Sharma, Pal John, Nazea Hasan Sayed, Keerti Nagpure, Sulagna Panigrahi, Zalak Desai, Dimple Jhangiani, Sonarika Bhadoria, Mahima Makwana, Krystle D'Souza.
5 years ago
Colours need Badly Revamp and Shows which Content related with Good Actors intact. It's too dependent on supernaturals + 3rd angle shows nothing to offer .
5 years ago
Honestly speaking then all channels need to do something about their shows, the message they send and the contents. Seriously is indian viewers really just for twist and turns, high volume drama, supernatural and ship a couple or is there something wrong with the TRP system ??? Because there is not one show that I am hook to. On Colors it only Gathbanden that I watch now and then. Choti Sardarni has something interesting but it illogical and the actress not so good. She is not connected with her character so I can't connect. Stop watching after a whole week was about marriage, singing and dancing. That not storytelling. For me colors did 2 good shows that I was hook to. Laagi tujhse lagan and Na bole tum na maine kuch kaha. I wish there was at least one channel that would do shows that has good contents and great actors that knows the ability to connect. A character oriented show.
5 years ago
Agree! Only Bigg boss brings number for this channel. Otherwise nobody watches colors
5 years ago
Choti Sardarni is a great and is the best right now, but Shakti has totally lost its charms.
5 years ago
Gathbandan is the only I can watch...the rest are too much
5 years ago
Colors shows are all pathetic. The recently launched Bahu Begam is horrible and it reminds of Dil Se Dil Tak. Shakthi also has lost it's charm. For the rest of the shows the less said the better.
5 years ago
Do agree with the writer of this article but that doesnot mean other channels are having superb shows. Just bcz they get good TRP ? What new these High TRP Shows bring ?. 1) Same Marriage Drama prolonged for months2) Reunion Separation Drama Break Up Repeat.3) Bringing back decade old shows with same crap4) Some shows just have TRP Based tracks with same kidnapping , murder , third wheel , villain marrying leads for crap deals.So just because these shows are unfortunately getting ratings , it doesnot mean that Colors has lost the touch. Any day i will watch Gathbandhan Choti Sardarni or Bepannah Pyaar over those crap high TRP Shaadi Dramas.
5 years ago