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Star Bharat continues to top Hindi GECs across genres
BENGALURU: During the first eight weeks of 2018 (Saturday, 30 December 2017 to Friday, 23 February 2018), honours have been divided equally by two Hindi free-to-air (FTA) GEC channels as far as topping Hindi GECs in Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC) weekly lists of the top 10 television channels across genres goes. In weeks 1, 3, 4 and 5, it was Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) Hindi GEC channel Zee Anmol that was ranked second after the Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV in BARC’s across genre list. In weeks 2, 6, 7 and now week 8 it is Star India Private Limited (Star India) Hindi GEC Star Bharat that was ranked second after Sun TV in the lists.
As in the case during the past few weeks, seven Hindi GECs, of which four were FTA, and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Tamil and Telugu channels made it to BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genre. Also, as in the case of the past few weeks, four Star India GECs’ – three Hindi and one Telugu; two Hindi GECs’ from Zeel; one FTA Hindi GEC and one Hindi movies channel from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN); and one GEC each from the Sun TV Network and Network18 comprised the top 10 channels across genres list for week 8 of 2018 (Saturday, 17 February 2018 to Friday, 23 February 2018).
As mentioned above, Sun TV topped the across genre list in week 8 of 2018 with 985.551 million impressions. The channel also topped BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu(TN)/Puducherry markets. All the top 5 Tamil programmes during primetime in these markets were aired on Sun TV during the week under review.
Star Bharat was ranked second in BARC’s across genres list with slightly higher ratings at 762.407 million weekly impressions in week 8 of 2018 as compared to the previous week’s 755.591 million weekly impressions. The channel also topped BARC’s ranking of the top 10 Hindi GEC channels in the urban (U) and rural (R) Hindi speaking market (HSM) and was ranked second in HSM (U). Its soap Nimki Mukhiya was among the top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R).
Zee Anmol was ranked third in the week under consideration with 715.586 million weekly impressions. The channel was ranked first in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GEC channels in HSM (R) and was ranked second in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GEC channels in HSM (U+R).
The Balaji Telefilms-produced family soap Kumkum Bhagya that featured on the channel was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Another programme that also featured on the channel in the HSM (R) list of top 5 programmes during primetime and was aired on Zee Anmol was Jamai Raja.
In week 8 of 2018, SPN’s FTA women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal was ranked fourth – the same as the previous week. The channel garnered 682.137 million weekly impressions in week 8 of 2018. Sony Pal was also ranked third in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GEC channels in HSM (U+R) and was ranked second in HSM (R). Three programmes, Baalveer, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and CID, that were aired on Sony Pal were among the top 5 Hindi GEC programmes in HSM (R).
At rank five in week 8 of 2018 was Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV (same rank as week 7) with higher ratings of 600.766 million weekly impressions as compared to 587.318 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Kumkum Bhagya that is also being aired on Zee TV and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were amongst the top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R) and HSM(U).
Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors was ranked sixth in week 8 of 2018 with 574.408 million weekly impressions. The channel topped BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GEC channels in HSM (U). Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki that aired on the channel was among the top 5 Hindi GEC channels in HSM (U).
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus climbed two ranks from last week’s ninth to seventh in week 8 of 2018 with 573.432 million weekly impressions. The channel had scored 522.697 million weekly impressions in week 7 of 2018. Star Plus was also ranked third among the top 10 Hindi GEC channels in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms-produced soap Yeh Hai Mohabbateinwas among BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U).
Another Star India FTA Hindi GEC Star Utsav was ranked eighth in week 8 of 2018 in the across genres list with 543.482 million weekly impressions to the previous week’s 553.212 million weekly impressions. Star Utsav was ranked third in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GEC’s in HSM (R).
Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa was ranked ninth in week 8 of 2018 in BARC’s across genre list with 538.662 million weekly impressions. In week 7 of 2018, the channel was ranked seventh with 561.696 million weekly impressions. The channel topped BARC’s list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana market. Like the previous week, 4 of the top 5 Telugu programmes during primetime in the same market were aired on Star Maa.
SPN’s Hindi Movies channel Sony Max was ranked tenth in week 18 of 2018 in BARC’s across genre list with 507.975 million weekly impressions, higher than the 501.759 million weekly impressions of week 7 of 2018. Sony Max topped BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi movies channels during the week under consideration in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) and the channel was amongst BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi movies channels in HSM (R).
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Star Bharat continues leading Hindi GECs across genres
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.
