If things go the way I have planned them, Sony will become #1 channel in the next one year : Chief Creative Director Vivek Bahl

Sony Entertainment Television thrives on its weekend and non-fiction programming like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Comedy Circus, Crime Patrol, CID, Adaalat which rock and get them big numbers. However, the same cannot be said for their fiction line-up which has failed to deliver barring Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (3.9), Parvarrish - Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (1.5) coupled with Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada (1.6) which are delivering decent numbers. Their recently concluded shows Saas Bina Sasural, Dekha Ek Khwaab and their new properties have failed to deliver. There is also a speculation that Byaah Hamari Bahu Ka might go off air next month. The channel had high expectations from their latest offering Hongey Judaa Na Hum but the show did not open to a great start (1.0 TVR in its first week). Having said this, Honge which marks the comeback of Aamna Shariff to television is better in numbers when compared to the launch week rating of Byaah Hamari Bahu Ka and Love Marriage Ya Arranged Marriage. Answering this major concern, Vivek Bahl, Chief Creative Director, Sony Entertainment Television says, “There is no point in denying that our daily fiction besides Bade Achhe…is going through tough times. Things will turn around if we continue to focus on fiction with confidence on a long term basis. Sony has trust in me and we do not believe in reacting to things but want to proceed on our steam. Our fiction has to fire which is a challenge, but if things go the way I have planned them, we will become #1 in the next one year. Already the gap between 1-4(GEC rankings) players is not much and we can march ahead. Our non-fiction is already in place, and it is a fact that other players have tried to ape our non-fiction success formula. Agreed Dance India Dance gets very good numbers but it is a seasonal show. When it comes to ongoing shows, nobody can touch us." We too hope Sony regains lost ground when it comes to its fiction properties.