Salman Khan is all set to return with his popular reality show, Bigg Boss 18, on Colors TV, creating a lot of excitement among fans. As the much-anticipated season approaches, a significant change in the programming lineup has been made. Ritesh Deshmukh’s Bigg Boss Marathi Season 5, which had been running successfully, has been taken off air after just 70 days, well before its expected run. This decision has been made to ensure there is no competition for Bigg Boss 18 when it hits the screens.
Ritesh Deshmukh’s Bigg Boss Marathi Gains Popularity but Ends Early
Ritesh Deshmukh made his debut as the host of Bigg Boss Marathi Season 5, and his entry into the reality TV space was a big hit. The show received immense love and high TRP ratings, with a solid 4.5 rating, significantly ahead of Anupama, which has a rating of 2.5 on Hindi television. Despite its success, the makers of Bigg Boss Marathi decided to wrap up the show in just 70 days, far ahead of the typical 100-day format of Bigg Boss seasons.
The reason? Bigg Boss 18 is set to launch, and to avoid any clash between the two shows, especially since both belong to the Bigg Boss franchise, the Marathi edition had to make an early exit. Despite its strong TRP, the show was stopped prematurely to clear the way for Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss 18 on Colors TV.
Bigg Boss 18’s Impact on Ritesh Deshmukh’s Show
Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss 18 is one of the most-watched reality shows in India. The producers of the Hindi version, Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine, are ensuring that there is no competition from any other reality shows as they prepare for the launch. This strategic move to end Bigg Boss Marathi early highlights the producers’ desire to give Bigg Boss 18 a clear field in the TRP race.
Fans of Bigg Boss Marathi are upset with the early end, especially given its popularity and strong audience base. Many viewers believe that the show could have continued to do well if it had been allowed to complete its full run. However, with Salman Khan’s return, the priority has shifted, and Bigg Boss Marathi had to make way for the Hindi version.
Why Bigg Boss Marathi Was Cut Short
Sources suggest that this decision was taken to prevent viewership overlap between the two editions of the Bigg Boss franchise. Bigg Boss Marathi had already been delayed for almost a year because the producers wanted to avoid any clashes with other editions, including Bigg Boss OTT and the upcoming Bigg Boss 18. Despite their best efforts, Bigg Boss OTT 3 launched earlier than expected, and the team had to fit Bigg Boss Marathi Season 5 into a tight window between Bigg Boss OTT 3 and Bigg Boss 18.
This limited time frame meant that Ritesh Deshmukh’s Bigg Boss Marathi could only run for 70 days, even though the show was performing well in terms of viewership. The decision to end it early, however, was made to ensure that Bigg Boss 18 could launch without any major competition, even from within the same franchise.
Viewer Reactions
The abrupt end of Bigg Boss Marathi has not sat well with many fans of the show. Marathi viewers, who had been eagerly following the season, expressed their disappointment, particularly as the show was faring so well in the TRP race. Many fans took to social media to voice their frustration, but the decision seems to be final as the makers are focused on making Bigg Boss 18 a massive success.
With several well-known faces from both the Marathi and Hindi entertainment industries appearing in Bigg Boss Marathi, the show had been a hit with a broad audience. However, the makers believe that ending it early will help ensure that Bigg Boss 18 gets the full attention of its audience.
