News Headline
Vijay TV claims to have inched past KTV
MUMBAI: “It’s no longer a fight for the third slot,” affirms Vijay TV programming head Suresh Iyer. Vijay TV, relaunched in October 2001 with the joint blessings of Star India and UTV, has inched past Sun’s sibling KTV to claim the number two slot in prime time.
KTV, an exclusive Tamil blockbuster film channel, launched in the last quarter of 2001 to counter the formidable competition posed by the revamped Vijay, has thus far stood firm at number two in the stakes, while cannibalizing a part of Sun TV’s redoubtable leadership in the Tamil market. Ratings agency TAM’s figures for August 2002 however paint a slightly dour picture for KTV. Vijay has surged ahead of KTV in the 7.30 pm – 9 pm slot, in the C&S 4+, AB 4+ and ABC 4+ categories on weekdays. While Vijay’s channel share in the CS AB 4+ category is 21.5, KTV’s corresponding figures are 7.1, says Iyer. In the CS ABC 4+ category, Vijay’s share is 17, as opposed to KTV’s 8.8.
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City
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Total Market
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Time Band
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TG
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Vijay TV
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K TV
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Raj TV
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Jaya TV
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Share
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Share
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Share
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Share
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19.30 – 21.00
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CS 4+ |
13.6
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9.7
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3.6
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2.7
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| CS AB 4+ |
21.5
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7.1
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3.2
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2.7
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| ABC 4+ |
17.0
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8.8
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3.5
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3.4
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Iyer admits that while Vijay’s weekends need to be beefed up, its afternoon programming too has beat KTV’s. Newly launched show Kadhai Alla Nijam contributes in a big way to Vijay’s hold over audiences. Iyer is clear that Vijay’s focus today is on the SEC A,B and C 15+ females, who contribute a large part of the channel’s viewers. In the afternoon band (12 pm to 2 pm), Vijay TV’s share in the CS AB 4+ category is 10.6, while KTV’s share is 3.6. In the ABC 4+ category, Vijay TV stands tall with a channel share of 10, while KTV has a share of 5.5.
In the larger prime time band of 7.30 pm to 11 pm, Vijay claims to have caught up with KTV with a channel share of 13 as opposed to KTV’s 10.3 in the CS AB 4+ category. Thanks to the Star network, Vijay now reaches 70 per cent of Tamil Nadu and is now concentrating on weaning away viewers from Sun. Apart from Kadhai Alla Nijam, a reality show that capitalizes on human emotion, and is aired in the afternoons as well as nights, the channel has launched three new shows in the last two months, all aimed at women viewers. Says Iyer, ” Vijay has also given a new dimension to the packaging of channels and on air promotions in south India.”
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.
