MUMBAI: Zee Music, the as yet somnolent music channel from the Zee stable, claims to have overtaken rivals in the one month after it was relaunched with a new logo, veejays and programming.
The channel claims it has overtaken all music channels in the Hindi speaking market, 'overtaking MTV in the first week of its launch'. Zee Music has managed to grab the lion's share of 24 per cent, says the channel, while reigning channel MTV has a share of 22 per cent, of the total market share for music channels. In the Hindi speaking market, the figures stand at Zee Music having a 26 per cent share, whereas MTV has a share of 19 per cent (Source TAM ratings week ending August 24-30, 2003).
The channel's new show Daud, a countdown show hosted by VJs Karan and Rajlaxmi was the number two show across all music channels, claims Zee. The back to back songs show, Radio Bandh, features seven times in the list of the top 25 shows across music channels, an official release says.
Says Zee Music business head Yogesh Radhakrishnan, "We are very excited with this performance which is an indicator of the fact that our planning is right. Such a positive reaction from our audience reinforces our belief in our strategy which aims at taking the battle for eyeballs to the doorsteps of the other music channels. The war has only just begun." 
"We're keeping our fingers crossed", says an excited Yogesh. "If we can sustain this for the next few weeks, then there will be no looking back. Our new programming, which is soon set to air, will ensure that we keep the edge going", he adds.