News Headline
JNU incident raises English News ratings afterslump in last week of 2019
BENGALURU: After an expected slump in viewership in the last BARC week of 2019 – week 53 (Saturday 28 December 2019 to Friday, 3 January 2020), the combined viewership of top 5 English News channels increased 9.2 percent to 1.835 million weekly impressions in week 1 of 2020 (Wy01 of 2020) from 1.681 million. Viewership was also boosted by the happenings at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on January 5 and their subsequent fall out.
There was a small change in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 5 English News channels in week 1 of 2019 (Saturday, 4 January 2020 to Friday 10 January 2020) – pubcaster network Doordarshan’sEnglish News channels DD India exited the list to be replaced by the Pronnoy and Radhika Roy led NDTV 24×7 which re-entered BARC’s weekly list after a short hiatus of two weeks. Earlier NDTV 24×7 had re-entered BARC’s weekly list of top 5 English News channels in week 51 of 2019 for the first time since BARC Recommenced publication of viewership data in the public domain in week 13 of 2019. BARC had stopped publication of weekly data in the public domain between weeks 6 and 12 of 2019 to enable stabilisation of viewership after the implementation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) New Tariff Order.
Please refer to the figure below:
As has become the norm, the top 2 channels in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 English News channels in week 1 of 2020 were same – the Arnab Goswami led Republic TV and his previous employer – Times Now. India Today Television moved up a place to rank 3 in week 1 of 2020 from rank 4 in week 53 of 2019. CNN News India also moved up a place to rank 4 during the week under consideration from rank 5 in the previous week. As mentioned above, NDTV 24×7 re-entered the list at rank five.
Please refer to the figure below:
Republic TV saw its ratings climb 8.1 percent to 0.615 million impressions in week 1 of 2020 from 0.569 million in the previous week. Times Now saw its viewership climb 14 percent in week 1 0f 2020 to 0.481 million weekly impressions from 0.422 million weekly impressions in week 53 of 2019. The India Today group’s India Today Television saw ratings jump 27.7 percent in week 1 of 2020 to 0.327 million weekly impressions from 0.256 million.
CNN News18 saw viewership climb 26.6 percent to 0.224 million weekly impressions from 0.177 million weekly impressions. NDTV 24×7 entered the list with 0.188 million weekly impressions in week 1 of 2020.
Please refer to the figure below
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.
