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T20 cricket garnered highest viewership across genres: BARC
MUMBAI: The recently concluded Asia Cup delivered the highest ratings of the season amongst the other sports with the Indian-Pakistan match taking the cake.
With approximately 26.6 crore viewers at an all India level excluding the finale, the India-Pak match was also viewed as the top programme across genres, according to the data recorded by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
BARC’s viewership measurement showed that viewing of cricket consistently dwarfed viewership of all other forms of programming, including general entertainment, since April last year.
According to the survey, the format of T20 on Star Sports from the past eight weeks attracted the majority of eyeballs. With the advent of multiple screens, Hotstar has now emerged as a significant source of viewership and is also becoming the primary screen for an increasing number of consumers in metropolitan India.
The Asia Cup Indo-Pak match was the highest watched T20 match ever on Hotstar with engagement levels for Asia Cup matches being 1.5 times higher than even the 2015 IPL.
According to the Council, the viewership amongst affluent males in urban India for matches when India played one-day international or T20 games is significantly higher than the lead entertainment channel’s share on those cricket days.
Highlighting cricket’s share of television audience in rural India, the viewership was even greater among the same demographic group, more than twice the share of eyeballs garnered by the lead entertainment channel on those days.
This trend highlights cricket’s undiminished appeal to consumers and is a testament to efforts aimed at establishing new broadcast benchmarks with a view to delivering a significantly enhanced and more immersive viewing experience for fans across the country.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
