MUMBAI: Dsport, which launched last year in February, became the top ranked sports channel according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) all-India data in week 11. Rishtey Cineplex attracted a big chunk of the Hindi-speaking audience while competing with pubcaster DD Sports.
DD Sports dropped a slot to the second position with a decrease in rating, from 144541 to 113894 impressions (000s) sum.
Dsport acquired the exclusive India broadcast rights of Nidahas Trophy 2018, a tri-nation international T20 tournament involving India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, in January. Subsequently, Discovery Communications, the broadcaster of Dsport, joined hands with Viacom18-owned mass entertainment channels, Rishtey Cineplex and Cineplex HD, for the Hindi feeds.
Rishtey Cineplex was at numero uno position in the Hindi-speaking market (HSM) with 707855 impressions (000s) sum compared to 545931 impressions (000s) sum last week. In the rural market the channel garnered 460789 impressions (000s) sum and is at the top position. In the urban market, the channel climbed two slots to the second position with 247066 impressions (000s) sum.
In week 10, Dsport managed to plough in 130982 impressions (000s) sum, whereas Rishtey Cineplex grabbed 545931 impressions (000s) sum.
Rishtey Cineplex garnered three times the viewership of Dsport in week 11. As the viewership indicates, the HSM in India is way bigger than the English audience. Dsport being on the top spot in the sports genre has managed to grab 242210 impressions (000s) sum this week.
Rishtey Cineplex became the first choice of the rural people replacing DD Sport in the week under review.
Live telecast of India versus Sri Lanka garnered 9772 impressions (000s) sum while India versus Bangladesh got 8095 impressions (000s) sum on Dsport, according to BARC.
Sony Ten1 climbed a rung to third position even as it witnessed a slight drop in the ratings with 88932 impressions (000s) sum compared with 89983 impressions (000s) sum in the week before. Star Sports First dropped a slot to fourth position with 82582 impressions (000s) sum followed by Star Sports 1 Hindi at fifth position with 36506 impressions (000s) sum.
Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak had earlier stated, “Cricket is much more than a sport in this country, it is an emotion. With this collaboration, we will be taking this emotion to more than 460 million additional viewers in India.”
The viewership of the channels will witness a big jump in week 12 ratings thanks to the thrilling finals featuring India and Bangladesh on 18 March 2018. Investing in cricket has turned Dsport’s fortunes, bringing the channel its highest viewership since inception. On 12 March, Indiantelevision.com reported that Discovery Communications would not bid for the BCCI’s upcoming rights. Maybe it’s time for Discovery to re-examine its strategy for the cricketing properties that come up for bidding in the future.
