Valentine's Day specials make no difference!

It’s the month of romance, what with the Valentine’s Day coming up, and the small screen too seems to have caught the love bug. However, it’s debatable whether the V-Day special episodes really mean more viewership, considering there’s anyways a deluge of love stories on air. After Hrs checks out with experts, if a special show or episode on Valentine’s Day really does get any extra TRPs for the show.

Experts believe that since Valentine’s Day is an urban concept, it doesn’t create interest among masses. Producer of the show Ruk Jana Nahi, Hemal Thakkar says, “Valentine’s Day is mostly a metro concept and in small towns, people have lesser awareness and avenues to celebrate the day. In any case, the primetime viewers continue to watch shows, so TRPs won’t be affected.  People watch their favourite shows, no matter what the occasion.”

Producer Raakesh Paswan of Zee TV’s show Afsar Bitiya too feels that TRPs remain unaffected with or without a Valentine special. “I don’t think that Valentine’s Day celebrations affects TRP and viewership. It’s a western concept and limited to only metros and that too mostly teenagers. The maximum TRPs come from small centres where there is no concept of Valentine and TV is the only source of entertainment,” says Paswan.

Infact, the ugly truth that is pointed out by actor Angad Hasija, who is currently seen in Ram Milayi Jodi, highlights how the shows’ crew doesn’t even get to be with their loved ones, even on the V-Day due to the hectic shoot schedules.

“Valentine’s Day celebrations require time and a daily soap actor doesn’t get that at all. We get to spend quality time with our spouses only when we have a day off. So, we get to celebrate Valentine’s Day only when we manage to get a day off anytime close to the V-Day. But, I do order flowers for my wife. Sadly, this is the least I can do due to my hectic schedule,” adds Angad.