Star beats Aaj Tak in mkt share

The latest TAM Media Research ratings for the week from July 31 to August 6 reveal, the Star and Ananda Bazaar Patrika-promoted Hindi news channel has garnered a 28 per cent market share in the four metros of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and is several notches up, surpassing the leading Hindi channel -- Aaj Tak which is at 25 per cent.

Uday Shanker, chief executive officer -- Media Content & Communications Services India, said, "Although the ratings are of one week, we consider it a positive development for Star News. It shows that we are in the right direction in terms of news gathering."

The channel has a 28 per cent market share in six metros, including Hyderabad and Bangalore, compared with Aaj Tak's 25 per cent. Star News shared the leading position with Aaj Tak in terms of average market share, with NDTV India and Zee News behind at 15 per cent market share.

Star News has four programmes, which have garnered top ratings for the period from July 31 to August 6, 2005. The Mumbai deluge reportage has also helped the channel immensely.

The channel had a 31 per cent market share in Mumbai, including an 88 minutes time spent by a Mumbai viewer on its channel. The channel clocked 69 and 64 minutes in the four metros and six metros, respectively.

A one-week lead may not be enough to dislodge the leader. But for Star News, this development also comes at a time when it is considering launching channels in other languages as well.