News Headline
All news channels, except biz news, see viewership slump in BARC week 5
MUMBAI: Despite the biggest financial event in the country – Budget 2020, the viewership of news channels of across genre, except business news channels, slowed down in week 5 (1-7 February) as compared to week 4, according to the data released by Broadcasting Audience Research Council India.
Week 4 (25-31 January) had seen many national importance events such as Republic Day, Delhi Assembly poll campaigns, pre-budget preparation, and Shaheen Bagh firing. The news channels across genre had buzzing news information almost every day during week 4 of BARC.
Hindi News
The TV Today Group’s Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, leading the race in the viewership in the Hindi category, has retained its position at the top among peers. However, the viewership of the channel has dropped by 12.3 per cent to 117478 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 133942 in week 4.
In week 5, news channels had no major or national importance event except budget 2020. However, the Delhi poll campaign being one of the buzzing events was concluded by the evening of 6 February as per the model code of conduct of Election Commission of India.
Not just Aaj Tak, in the Hindi news segment, all other channels featured in the list of the week 5 saw a slump in viewership pattern as against week 4’s viewership. Zee News maintaining its second spot in the list of week 5 fell by 8 per cent to 97652 weekly impressions as compared to 106097 impressions in week 4.
Moreover, News18 India, which also retained its spot on the third position, saw a drop by 5.2 per cent to 95139 weekly impressions in week 5 versus 100395 impressions in week 4. Whereas India TV maintaining its fourth position but fell by 3.3 per cent to 88477 weekly impressions as compared to 91481 weekly impressions in week 4.
Replacing Republic Bharat, ABP News has bagged the fifth spot in the list of week 5 with weekly impressions of 87015. However, Republic Bharat tried to clinch a fifth spot in the urban segment of Hindi news channel with 51613 weekly impressions in week 5.
English News
In the English news category, Republic TV has maintained its lead in week 5, however, it slumped by over 12.5 per cent to 654 weekly impressions as compared to 749 impressions in week 4. Despite out throwing DD India from second spot, Times Now has also dropped by 3.3 per cent to 515 weekly impressions in week 5 compared to 534 impressions in week 4.
Meanwhile, India Today Television, taking Times Now last week’s spot, has dropped by 17.7 per cent to 303 weekly impressions in week 5 versus 368 impressions in week 4. Moreover, DD India falling to fourth position this week has substantially dropped by 74.6 per cent to 181 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 713 impressions in week 4.
DD India, a government-owned news broadcaster, was able to gain exponential impressions in week 4 due to 71st Republic Day event, which was authorised to show the exclusive footage of the event and also share it with other news channels by giving give courtesy to DD India.
Similarly, CNN News18 maintaining its position at the last spot but also fell substantially by over 30 per cent to 163 weekly impressions in week 5 as compared to 237 weekly impressions in week 4.
Business News
Budget being the most important event for the business news channels, Both CNBC TV18 of Network18 group and ET Now of Times News Network, in the English category, grew by over 100 per cent to 727 and 266 weekly impressions in week 5 respectively. CNBC TV18, leading between the two, had garnered 275 weekly impressions and ET had achieved 123 weekly impressions in week 4.
Similarly, in the Hindi business news category, Both CNBC Awaaz and Zee Business grew by 21 per cent and 41 per cent respectively. The former garnered 2492 weekly impressions, whereas the latter settled at 2131 impressions in week 5 as compared to 1965 and 1249 impressions in week 4 respectively.
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.
