Cricket & Sony/SET
Sony and SET are broadcasting 2003 Cricket World Cup to the Indian Sub-Continent. Though primarily both and Entertainment Channel, broadcasting Movies, Family Dramas and few Song & Dance Program. It has nothing to do with Cricket, but for a few Cricket Program, showcasing Kapil ’’Great’’ Dev as anchor, but it is hardly technical.
Two years back when the ICC released the broadcasting tenders, Global Cricket Corporation was one to acquire it. It sold the Rights of all the Live Matches to Sony/SET. It also sold the airtime for highlights of all matches and Live broadcast of Indian matches to DD.
Now it was upto to Sony/SET to provide us with the best Build-Up, Cricket Coverage and the Summary after the end of each match. Cricket WC being the the most watched program in the region, high TRP rating was expected. Just with the Live coverage(without any Build-up), they would easily break-even the broadcasting cost. But, then it was there moral responsibility to provide us with the best of coverage, with best of commentators and experts. Instead what they provided us, was disappointing to say the least. They gave us Mandira, who provide negligible amount for the brain, but a enormous amount for the eyes(I guess you all know what I’m talking about, right??). Then there is a Kris. Srikant, with his typical South-Indian accent, I don’t how can anybody bear with him. For him a match is either very easy or impossible, no two ways about it. The new addition this time of the year is arrrrrrrrrrr Venketesh Prasad, should I say more. And the Chief Presenter, Charu Sharma, is one who was kicked out of ESPN-Star, quite a long while ago. That itself tells you about SETMax standard.
But they do have a two experts, Barry Richard and Jeff Thomson. I would have loved to watch them sitting next to Harsha and Gavaskar. Then they have Ravi Shastri and Tony Grieg, who can be counted in above mediocre. The West-Indians, though knowledgeable, lack the class associated with commenting.
I usually watch the Build-Up and Follow Through on ESPN-Star, even without the Cricketing Visuals, their Review is self explanatory and precise.
Movies & Sony/SET
Earlier when they started their broadcast they displayed very good collection of new and old movies, now the movies have started repeating itself on the channel itself, then there is competition from other channels too. Its quite ironic that the day they provide their blockbuster, there usually is a equally good, though not better I may add, on some other channel. Thereby reducing its TRP ratings.
Family Dramas & Sony/SET
Though I may not be a great fan of dramas and serials I do hear about the serials on Sony/SET from friends and Reviews on MouthShut. I concur, that Lipstick and Kitty Party are good, have no idea about of rest of them. Star has taken a lot of Serials TRP rating with its K’brigade.
Gana Masti & Sony/SET
Yeah, I do watch a few of those and really like some of them. The shows such as Boogie Woogie and rest, provide people with new talent. These are the kids how are going to make there head way in the entertainment industry.
Overall
But for Cricket, Sony/SET are losing out on TRP ratings and are not providing us with class stuff. Their progress have become stagnant for a longtime, and its time they do something about it. I personally have Sony/SET tuned in as 34/35 channel in Television Set, its time they come up.
I believe a lot of you won’t take my opinion to your liking, but then, its my opinion.