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Four Star India channels among top ten in across-genre list
BENGALURU: Four channels from the Star India Network made it to the Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC) top 10 channels across genres list–all India: 2+ in week 14 of 2018: Saturday, 31 March 2018 to Friday, 6 April 2018. Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) had three channels, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) had two channels and Sun TV Network had one channel in the list of top 10 channels. Six of the channels were Hindi GECs, two were Hindi movie channels and there was one channel each from the Tamil GEC and the Telugu GEC genres.
The combined ratings of the top 10 channels across genres reduced by 2.3 per cent in week 14 to 6,476.274 million impressions from 6,629.826 million impressions. The first six ranks and order in week 14 were the same as in week 13 of 2018. One channel moved up the list while three channels re-entered the list during the week under review.
Sun Networks’ flagship Tamil GEC occupied its numero uno position as usual in week 14 with 990.432 million weekly impressions as compared to 985.490 million weekly impressions in week 13 of 2018. Also, as is usual, Sun TV topped BARC’s list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry markets. All the top 5 Tamil programmes during primetime in these markets were also aired on Sun TV.
Star Bharat continued to hold its second place overall and first among the Hindi GECs in the across genres list in week 14 of 2018 with 739.935 million weekly impressions as compared to 756.655 million weekly impressions in the previous week. The channel also held the top rank in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in the Hindi speaking urban and rural markets or HSM (U+R). Star Bharat was ranked second in HSM (U) and ranked fourth in HSM (R). The programme Kya Haal Mr Paanchal was among the top five Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R).
Also holding on to its third place was Zeel’s free-to-air (FTA) Hindi GEC Zee Anmol with 712.667 million weekly impressions in week 14 as compared to 739.830 million weekly impressions in week 13 of 2018. Zee Anmol was ranked second in HSM (U+R), first in HSM (R) and ninth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms-produced Kumkum Bhagya topped BARC’s list of top five Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Another soap Ganga that was aired on Zee Anmol was the third most watched programme during primetime in week 14 of 2018 in HSM (R).
At fourth place was SPN’s women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal with 679.1716 million weekly impressions in week 14 as compared to 712.094 million weekly impressions in week 13 of 2018. Sony Pal was ranked third in HSM (U+R) and second in HSM (R). CID aired on Sony Pal was in the list of top five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Furthermore, the channel’s sitcom comedy Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah and Balveer were in the list of top five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM (R).
Continuing on at fifth rank was another Star India FTA Hindi GEC Star Utsav with 612.184 million weekly impressions in week 14 as compared to 641.729 million weekly impressions in week 13 of 2018. The channel was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), third in HSM (R) and was eighth in HSM (U).
Also holding onto its sixth place was SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max with 594.882 million weekly impressions in week 14 as compared to 587.930 million weekly impressions in week 13 of 2018. Sony Max also topped BARC’s list of top five Hindi movies channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) and was ranked fifth in HSM (R). Hindi feature films (HFF) Tiger Zinda Hai and Sarrainudo were the five most watched Hindi movie programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U).
Catapulting from the previous week’s tenth rank in the list to the seventh place was Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV with 562.387 million weekly impressions in week 14 as compared to 539.770 million weekly impressions in week 13 0f 2018. Zee TV was ranked fifth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) and was ranked eighth in HSM (R). Kundali Bhagya, a spinoff of Kumkum Bhagya, aired on Zee TV was the second most watched programme during primetime in HSM (U+R) and the most watched Hindi GEC programme during primetime in HSM (U).
Entering BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genres was Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus at eighth rank with 539.231 million weekly impressions in week 14. Star Plus was ranked eighth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), fourth in HSM (U) and was placed ninth in HSM (R).
Also, re-entering the list was Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa with 528.125 million weekly impressions in week 14 of 2018. The channel topped BARC’s list of top five Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana markets, while three of its programmes were amongst BARC’s list of top five programmes during primetime in the same markets.
Another SPN Hindi movies channel, Sony Wah, also re-entered BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genres in week 14 of 2018 with 516.716 million weekly impressions. Sony Wah was ranked second in BARC’s list of top five Hindi movies channels for the week in HSM (U+R), first in HSM (R) and fourth in HSM (U). HFF Rowdy Rathore was the second most watched Hindi movie during primetime in HSM (U+R) and the most watched Hindi movie during primetime in HSM (R).
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Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.







