Diverse shows, fresh programming catapult 9X to No 3 among GECs

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) Riding on a range of shows traversing diverse genres and fresh programmes like 'Jiya Jale' and 'Kya Dil Mein hai'reminding one of the the golden era of television in the 70s and 80s, the Hindi entertainment channel 9X has emerged as the Number 3 Hindi GEC in the country, latest viewership figures reveal.

Launched just under five months back by INX Media, the flagship company of the INX Network, 9X, showing a continuous growth week on week, is now the Number 3 Hindi GEC in the country across both demographics - C&S 15-24 and C&S 4+, as per aMap data released for Week 17 of 2008 in the West, North and East.

According to the GEC report card for India per aMap in C&S 4+, Star Plus is the number one General Entertainment channel in the country with 291 GRPs) while Zee is the No two GEC with 182 GRPs, 9X the No three with 88 GRPs, NDTV Imagine is fourth with 80 GRPs, Star One fifth with 67 GRPs, Sony sixth with 66 GRPs and Sahara One is seventh among GECs with 54 GRPs.

Sources in the 9X channel said INX Media is firmly on course with its plans for 9X, which has grown steadily week on week, to reach the Number 3 position amongst Hindi GECs in both, the C&S4+ and the 15-24 yrs segments.

From Monday, 9X added another half an hour of original prime time programming with launch of its new devotional show 'Jai Maa Vaishnodevi'.

Infact, the last month or so has seen the entire INX Network surging ahead - while 9X is the Number 3 GEC; 9XM, another channel launched by the network, is India's Number One Music Entertainment Channel by far.

Meanwhile, INX News' English News Channel, NewsX -- which is also India's first HDTV-ready news channel -- completed one month on April 27, and from Monday, 9X got a soft-launch in the UK on EPG 832 with four hours of programming to begin with.

Sources in 9X feel the various initiatives taken by the network since its launch will fuel greater network growth.

9X, which has had one of the most successful C&S TV channel launches in the recent past, has grown steadily in ratings week on week and is firmly on course in its quest for industry leadership.

In the coming months, the channel, which has achieved these excellent ratings with just two-and-a-half hours of weekday primetime programming, plans to introduce two more hours of original prime time programming.

With 'Mata vaishno Devi', being aired on the channel from Mondays to Thursdays at 8 pm, 9X ventures into devotional programming.

A series of intense divinity and devotion through the story of one of India's revered Goddesses, 'Mata Vaishno Devi' is being produced by veteran Dheeraj Kumar's Creative Eye Productions.

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