In a major shakeup of the free-to-air (FTA) television space, Star Utsav has surged ahead of long-time leader Dangal to claim the top spot, according to the latest viewership data reported by The Economic Times.

The climb marks a significant win for Disney Star’s FTA offering, which has been ramping up its content and distribution strategy over the past few quarters.

After playing second fiddle to Dangal for an extended period, Star Utsav’s recent programming choices and smart scheduling seem to have finally paid off. Sources close to the network revealed that re-runs of classic Star Plus hits, combined with targeted promotional pushes across Hindi-speaking markets, contributed heavily to the channel’s rise in viewership.

Meanwhile, Dangal, which has long enjoyed its status as the FTA leader due to its strong regional appeal and original content, is reportedly in the midst of revamping its programming to bounce back.