MUMBAI: While the political battle for the position of Chief Minister in Maharashtra is still being waged, Star News has emerged the clear winner in the war of the news channels as far as the viewer's share is concerned.
According to the latest Tam ratings for election week (9-16 October) within the core news viewing audience (C&S, Male, 25+, SEC A,B,C) in Maharashtra, Star News leads with a market share of 27 per cent within prime time (7 pm - 11.59 pm).
The all day market share for the same audience and market is 24 per cent for Star News, which makes it a joint number one.
Also on the two most important days of the electoral process - 13 October (polling and exit polls) and 16 October (counting day) Star News is the number one news channel with a market share of 25 per cent and 29 per cent respectively in Maharashtra.
In terms of time spent for the same audience and market Star News occupies the top spot with 67 minutes for the entire week whereas Aaj Tak is a distant second with 57 minutes. Within the C&S, 15+ All SEC’s group too, Star News comes a close second in Maharashtra for the entire week as well as on polling and counting days, says an official communiqué from the channel.
Star News' counting day special – Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri – Aapka Hukum – has also featured as one of the top five shows of the category.
Star News' Pehli Tasveer (first opinion poll) – was way ahead of the competition with 63 per cent viewer share, and the closest competitor NDTV was way behind with its Jeet Uski Janta Jiski at just 19 per cent. Star News also came up trumps with its second opinion poll - Taaza Tasveer that grabbed the viewer’s attention.
As per the latest figures Star News scored the highest amongst viewers in Mumbai too on all parameters including ‘all-day’ viewing and ‘prime time’ viewing for the entire week and on the crucial ‘polling day’ and ‘counting’ day.
Also credible is the fact that the channel was the only one who's exit poll predictions were almost bang on target.