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Ten Sports dominates sports viewing courtesy WWE
MUMBAI: If there is one thing that has generally stayed constant in the sports genre it is that when there is no India cricket Ten Sports has dominated in terms of channel share in the sports genre thanks to World Wresting Entertainment (WWE).
According to Tam data, c&s 15+ male all India from 29 July 2006 to 19 August 2006, Ten Sports has managed to do better than the other players in the sports genre.
In terms of TVR share Ten Sports managed a 61 per cent share. ESPN and Star Sports combined managed 36 per cent. Zee Sports and DD Sports have a share of one per cent each.
In terms of the weekly TVR Ten Sports in the week of 29 July managed an average rating of 0.16. This rose slightly to 0.18 during the week of 5 August. ESPN’s TVR fell slightly from 0.07 to 0.06 for the same weeks. Star Sports rose slightly from 0.04 to 0.05.
Ten Sports’ highest rated show for the period was the WWE special The Great American Bash. It managed a rating of 2.1. The fact that viewer interest in non India cricket is still small can be gauged by the fact that ESPN managed a TVR of 0.4 for an England Pakistan test match. Even for an ODI Star Sports got a TVR of 0.5
Ten Sports has also done an age wise analysis of WWE. This finds that those in the 15-24 age bracket tune in to it the most. That age group shows an average TVR of 2.0 for the WWE special The Great American Bash on 6 August. If one looks at the 15-34 age group the TVR is 1.6. It is 1.7 for males 15+.
For the edition of Raw on 7 August the average TVR is 1.25 among males 15-24. For males 15+ it is 1.11. It is 1.14 for the 15-34 age bracket. Those in the 4-14 age group watch WWE the least among all the age brackets surveyed. Their rating for Raw is below one. By contrast to WWE’s performance TNA which is a wrestling show on ESPN Star Sports fails to find a mention.
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.
