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BARC week 31: English news weekly ratings fall again
BENGALURU: The combined weekly ratings of the top 5 English news channels declined 4.45 per cent according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data for week 31 of 2019 (Saturday, 27 July 2019 to Friday, 2 August 2019, week or period under review) as compared to the previous week. The combined viewership of the top 5 English news channels in week 31 of 2019 was 1.811 million weekly impressions as compared to 1.896 million weekly impressions in week 30. This was the second lowest total since BARC recommenced publication of weekly data in the public domain in week 13 of 2019.
As mentioned by us earlier, ratings of English news ratings seem to be on a decline Earlier, in week 29 of 2019, the combined viewership of the top 5 English news channels had achieved a new nadir.Please refer to the figure below:
The channels in BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 English news channels have been the same since week 13 of 2019. However, there has been some shuffling in ranks during the period. Over the past few week, ranks 1, 2 and 3 have stabilised with the Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV at rank 1, Times Now at rank 2 and pubcaster Doordarshan India’s English news channel DD India at rank 3. During the past three weeks, rank four has been held by Network18’s CNN News18 and rank 5 by the India Today Group’s India Today Television. Please refer to the two charts below
As mentioned above, ranks one to five seem to have stabilised since the past three weeks, with Republic TV, Times Now, DD India, CNN News18 and India Today Television at ranks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
Let us see the ratings of the top 5 channels in week 31 of 2019.
At rank 1, Republic TV saw a small decline in viewership at 0.569 million weekly impressions in week 31 as compared to 0.574 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Times Now saw its ratings bump up to 0.425 million weekly impressions during the week under review as compared to 0.411 million weekly impressions in week 23. Ranked third, DD India saw a big drop in ratings to 0.337 million weekly impressions in week 31 of 2019 as compared to 0.400 million weekly impressions in week 30. CNN News18 also saw a substantial drop in viewership to 0.246 million weekly impressions in week 31 of 2019 as compared to 0.283 million weekly impressions in week 30. Completing the quintet at rank five, India Today Television saw its ratings increase slightly to 0.234 million weekly impressions during the period under review as compared to 0.228 million weekly impressions in the previous week.
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.
