News Headline
TATA IPL 2024 on JioCinema sees 51 per cent surge in day one viewership over 2023
Mumbai: JioCinema, the official streaming platform for the TATA IPL, made an incredible opening for the 2024 season as over 11.3 crore viewers logged in on day one, a 51 per cent increase compared to day one of TATA IPL 2023. As JioCinema commenced their second season on digital, over 59 crore video views were registered on the platform for the opening day of TATA IPL 2024 which led to 660 crore minutes of watch-time.
The opening match on JioCinema was a spectacle to behold as fans were treated with unheard TATA IPL stories from their favourite heroes Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag. JioCinema turned it up in the commentary box as well, as cricket fans heard Sehwag commentate in Haryanvi for the first time. Style icon and singer Badshah dialled up the pop-figure quotient in JioCinema’s Punjabi and Haryanvi commentary box, calling the game with his swagger.
Another driver of the record-breaking figures during the opening match was the latest edition of JioCinema’s free-to-play predict and win game, Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan. The opening night contest saw a viewer winning gold worth Rs 50 lakhs, while the first runner-up won gold worth Rs 10 lakhs. More than 50 participants won gold worth Rs 1 lakh each. Viewers will also be able to win a motorcycle, a smart TV, and plenty of vouchers for each game from second match onwards.
“We resumed where we left last year, and the numbers testify there is no better way to experience the TATA IPL than digital,” said a Viacom18 spokesperson. “India has completed its transition to being a digital-first sports consuming nation and the opening game record numbers validate this. We are going to see benchmarks reset and records re-written throughout the course of this season.”
JioCinema took the opening match presentation to a whole new level with six leading consumer brands, Dream11, Charged by Thums Up, Parle Products, Britannia, Dalmia Cements, and HDFC Bank, debuting their TATA IPL campaign within the first six overs of the opening game under the newly introduced JioCinema Brand Spotlight. This season kicked off Friday night with a record 18 sponsors and over 250 advertisers.
The new season of TATA IPL has given viewers lot to cheer about as fans can continue streaming the world’s biggest cricket league for free on JioCinema. In addition, fans will be able to catch the latest season in 4K, across 12 languages, including Haryanvi for the first time, with multi-cam options, including the much-hyped Hero Cam.
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.








