News Headline
Rentrak and Viacom ink TV ratings & VOD measurement deal
MUMBAI: Rentrak has entered into a TV ratings and Video on Demand measurement agreement with Viacom Media Networks.
Viacom will utilize Rentrak’s Advanced Demographics measurement capabilities, which include Rentrak’s viewing information and integrated purchase information from IRI, Shopcom and IHS Polk’s Automotive segmentations.
Rentrak’s advanced analytical technology will support Viacom’s ability to precisely target consumer audiences. Rentrak provides access to a broad range of consumer insights from the cars consumers drive to the products in their shopping carts. This capability supports Viacom’s advanced data approach, including the recently announced Viacom Vantage, a data-driven advertising product that gives advertisers the flexibility to define and reach custom audiences.
Viacom Media Networks executive vice president of strategic insights and research Colleen Fahey Rush said, “Viacom is leading the industry with a comprehensive approach, fusing the power of research and insights to drive value and opportunity. Our partnership with Rentrak further strengthens our insights arsenal and our ability to unlock new levels of targeting.”
“We are excited to welcome Viacom to our growing list of national network clients. We are proud to partner with them to support their products and look forward to helping them gain greater insights that will highlight the value of their audience through our measurement and analytics,” added Rentrak vice chairman and CEO Bill Livek.
Rentrak’s television ratings service is the only fully-integrated system of detailed satellite, telco and cable TV viewing information from more than 31 million TVs nationwide including granular information for TV stations and cable networks in all 210 local markets.
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








