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‘American Idol’ finale wins Fox its 2nd best ever ratings numbers
MUMBAI: The conclusion to the second season of Fox’s music based reality show American Idol has seen the Rupert Murdoch broadcaster make major gains.
Around 33.7 million people watched Wednesday night’s two-hour results show which saw Ruben Studdard bag the title. The show saw 50,000 auditioners in six cities participate. A Reuters report indicates that the figures from Nielsen Media Research mean that the show gave Fox television it’s second highest-rated night of entertainment programming ever. Judges for the show included pop sensation Paula Abdul.
Just 130,000 votes separated Studdard from his closest rival Clay Aiken. Fox received over 24 million votes through the phone for the two of them.
Fox is said to be planning a third season of the show. Meanwhile in a bid to extend the brand, Fox will launch American Juniors next month. The Murdoch broadcaster will soon showcase the search to find the country’s best singers and dancers ages 6-13 who will ultimately comprise a five-member group. Talent searches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Chattanooga. Thousands of kids, along with their fanatical parents, weathered wind, rain and impending tornadoes for a chance at stardom.
During the auditions, producers evaluated each contestant’s singing and dancing abilities, and, as part of the show’s production, will whittle down the group of thousands to 20 semi-finalists. At this point Uncle Sam takes over and votes for ten finalists.
Each of these contestants will perform individually in a Tuesday night performance episode. The home audience will then vote weekly for their favorite contestant. Results of the vote will be revealed during Wednesday night’s show.
Each week, the performer with the largest number of votes will advance into the final group of five. The final five will then become a new performing sensation. American Juniors is produced by 19 TV Limited and FremantleMedia North America.
While, Fox extends the Idol franchise in the US, Star India is actively working on plans for an “Indian Idol”. That looks like being the youth-based show that Star India COO Sameer Nair told indiantelevision.com is Star’s next big programming project, in a recent interview. The show will be aired on Star Plus and not the network’s music channel [V].
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.
