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RuPay Prime Volleyball season two viewership up by 55 per cent
Mumbai: With an exciting 15-point format, innovations like super serves and super points, star-studded teams, and a plethora of celebrities including southern film superstars Vijay Deverakonda, Kalayani Priyadarshan and sporting royalty like PV Sindhu, Mayank Agarwal, Swiss Open Champion Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Ashwini Ponnappa, Sajan Prakash in support, season two of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 proved to be a tremendous success, with a 55 per cent increase in viewership.
The RuPay Prime Volleyball League season two featuring the Ahmedabad Defenders, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Calicut Heroes, Chennai Blitz, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Kochi Blue Spikers, Kolkata Thunderbolts, and the Mumbai Meteors was aired on Sony Sports Network in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam in the Indian subcontinent and globally on Volleyball World. The total cumulative viewership across all matches and highlights for the Season 2 of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League reached 206 million, as compared to 133 million from Season one.
Interestingly, the league garnered almost equal interest from the female audiences with the gender split between Men and Women viewers being 58:42, showcasing a growing interest among women for the sport of volleyball.
The RuPay Prime Volleyball League also saw unprecedented growth in reach, engagement, impressions, and views on social media.
Here are some key figures:
1) Reach
Season 1: 31 Million
Season 2: 92 Million
Increase in Reach: 196 percent
2) Engagement
Season 1: 0.85 Million
Season 2: 5.1 Million
Increase in Engagement: 500 percent
3) Impressions:
Season 1: 38 Million
Season 2: 371 Million
Increase in Impressions: 876 percent
4) Views:
Season 1: 12 Million
Season 2: 113.9 Million
Increase in Views: 849 percent
Season two of RuPay Prime Volleyball League was closely followed by people from UAE, USA, Canada, Nepal, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia among other nations. The key demographic of 18-34 was the most engaged group on social media for season two with over 40 percent participation.
RuPay Prime Volleyball League managing director, baseline ventures and co-founder Tuhin Mishra expressed delight with the extraordinary success. “We have really hit it out of the park this time. We always knew we had a product that would capture the imagination of audiences. But to see the tremendous growth in terms of TV viewership and on social media was truly satisfying.”
The RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 had been telecast LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 1 (English), Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) & Sony Sports Ten 2 (Malayalam) channels in the Indian subcontinent, and had been streamed on Volleyball World TV globally.
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.
