TOI: Low TRPs means no airtime for TV shows

Many TV shows that have not garnered high TRPs in the first 3-6 months have been pulled off air

While on the one hand, we have shows like Balika Vadhu, Yeh Rishtaa Kya Kehlaata Hai and Uttaran which are still going strong after more than 800 episodes, there are some shows which don't even manage to reach the 100-episode mark. Bhai, Bhaiya Aur Brother which started with much hype only two months back is going off air on August 10. The show will be replaced by Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hai.

This trend has been visible on Indian television in the last one year. Earlier, the shows were given a longer run if they were not garnering high TRPs or were shifted to an evening or afternoon slot, but now they are shown the exit door if they fail to gain enough viewers' attention. Industry insiders say that small-budget shows are usually given a time of six months to establish themselves, but big-budget ones are only given a window of three months to gain viewer interest. If they are unable to do so, they are pulled off air. But, doesn't this indicate that the makers have to incur huge losses? "We are informed well in advance when the show has to be taken off air. The channel had informed us two weeks back that Bhai, Bhaiya Aur Brother will be going off air," said Deven Bhojani, co-producer of the show. We bring you a list of some shows which came, but couldn't conquer.

Bhai, Bhaiya Aur Brother (51 episodes)
June 4-August 10, 2012: This story of three brothers who unite after a gap of 15 years, featured known actors like Sooraj Thapar and Vrajesh Hirjee. It was also touted to be the comeback of filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah to telly after a long gap. But, the show failed to live up to its billing and could only garner a TRP of 0.8. Sooraj, one of the lead actors of the show says, "Maybe the presentation style was not good. The situations are almost similar in every comedy show; it's the characterisation which makes a difference. Somewhere, the characters didn't work and the humour was not very good. Also, the competition from Balika Vadhu and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon in the 8pm time slot affected the show."

Shubh Vivah (89 episodes)
February 27-June 29, 2012: Shubh Vivah was the remake of a popular Tamil show Metti Oli, but could hardly last the distance. Poor TRPs, a hackneyed plot and stiff competition from Sasural Simar Ka sounded the death knell for this show.

Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein (91 episodes)
February 14-June 16, 2012: While experts say that Indian telly is coming of age and accepting progressive themes, a number of critics say that the Indian audiences still want these storylines to be confined within a family setup. Thus, this love story of an ordinary girl and a RAW agent didn't go down too well with the viewers. Despite a novel concept, the show was clean bowled even before it could cross a century.

Aasman Se Aage (63 episodes)
April 23-July 13, 2012: Promising the viewers to give a sneak peek into the dirty world of reality television, the show featured Apoorva Agnihotri in a negative role for the first time on small screen. But the show couldn't last the mile and was taken off air within four months of its launch. Kushal Punjabi, one of the actors on the show had told us some time back, "The show should have been given a longer run. It was a novel concept and would have become popular slowly."

Ammaji Ki Galli (70 episodes)
June 20 to August 22, 2011: After the success of comedy series Shararat, this was considered to be Farida Jalal's comeback to the genre. However, critics raised questions on her being the protagonist in a comedy, a genre that is considered to be male-centric. Less TRPs ensured that the show was pulled off air within two months.