MUMBAI: The not so new sports channel on the block, Ten Sports may be maintaining a low profile but in terms of ratings it seems to be giving ESPN Star Sports a licking, if the ratings are to be believed.
 

The figures show that if one takes out special and high profile events, people seem to prefer tuning in to Ten Sports for news updates and wrestling. According to TAM data put out by Emedia plan for ESPN, Star Sports and Ten Sports for the week starting 26 January ( c&s households 4+, specific cities) Ten Sports has made a clean sweep of the top five shows in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. 

In Delhi and Mumbai the, Raw and Smackdown wrestling content has choke slammed ESS. In Delhi, the Raw edition which aired on 27 January had a TVR of 2.61, a channel share of 19.4 while Smackdown had a TVR of 2.6 and channel share of 31.02. Its news bulletin Peter England Sports Update as well as Ten Sports Wash Out round out the top five.

In Mumbai, while the ratings for Ten Sports' shows are lower, it has still beaten off ESS. Smackdown has the number one spot with a TVR of 1.94 and channel share of 16.47. Raw has a TVR of 1.89 and channel share of 16.56.

The South market however favours ESS with ESPN sweeping Bangalore. Legends of Cricket which aired on 29 January had a TVR of 1.99 and market share of 5.79. Football Focus had a TVR of 1.55 and market share of 4.72. In Chennai, however, just one Star Sports programme makes the cut. Its Mission South Africa special is in fourth spot with a TVR of 0.63 and channel share of 1.91. 

It is also interesting to to note that it is the Ten Sports news bulletins that people are tuning into in Chennai. The wrestling specials are absent. Also it is worth noting that Jason Dacey's Sportsline news bulletins for ESS do not feature anywhere.

In the prevailing scenario, it is perhaps a smart idea for ESS to feature a Mike Tyson boxing extravaganza. Tyson will take on fellow American, Clifford -The Black Rhino. This airs live on 23 February on ESPN at 7:30 am. Star Sports will have a repeat that night at 10 pm. ESPN repeats it on Monday at 1 pm. The event takes place in Memphis at The Pyramid arena . At least that gives viewers a reason to tune in to the channels apart from the Taking Guard and Follow Through specials that ESS has been hacking out in a desperate aim to divert attention from MAX.