MUMBAI: The COVID – 19 pandemic has got the people across the country, particularly the small towns , glued to the television. The TV channels were forced to resort their reruns of their old shows, due to lack of new content. While some succeeded to grab the eyeballs, most of them witnessed a drop in the ratings. 

While consumption of shows on private GEC's has gone down, the private movie channels have seen a spike. As per BARC, Sony Max leads the pack, and is followed by Star Gold, Zee Cinema and & Pictures. "Movie Channels have shown a 50 per cent growth compared to the pre-lockdown ratings and that's because they are not dependent on original content" he shares and further adds "People like to watch their favourite films again and again. Even today Amitabh Bachchan films garner great ratings, so do family dramas like Hum Saath Saath Hai and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...!" 

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In the lockdown, Sajid Nadiadwala's comic caper, Housefull 4 fronted by Akshay Kumar is also doing wonders, with most of its repeat screenings finding a place in top five films of the week. The ratings last week (60,18,000 impression as per BARC) suggest that it is among the most successful films on television in today's time. 

Director Farhad Samji believes that the novel concept of reincarnation comedy is working in the film's favour. "People love the way Akshay Kumar portrayed the character of Bala. Our song, Bala, created intrigue around the personality - "Shaitaan Ka Sala, Rab Ne Pala" - and has worked very well for the film. We made the film with right intention of making people laugh, and the TV ratings and box-office success is a stamp of acceptance," Farhad believes.

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