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WWE live telecast catapults Sony to the top after 10 weeks
MUMBAI: It has been a 10-week-long wait for Sony Pictures Network (SPN) India to make it to the top of the ratings chart. Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) ratings show that the live telecast of WWE Raw and Smackdown on Sony Ten 1 managed to clinch it for SPN.
In week 46, Sony Ten 1 netted 97932 Impressions (000s) sum as compared with 89102 Impressions (000s) sum the week before. The most popular programme WWE Raw garnered 1873 Impressions (000s) sum for the channel.
Star India and IMG Reliance-owned Indian Super League season 4 struggled to grab eyeballs for the opening ceremony held on 17 November 2017. The opening ceremony garnered 1055 Impressions (000s) sum on Star Sports 1 Hindi.
Star India, thanks to domestic leagues, ICC events and the BCCI rights, stayed on top for several weeks because of back-to-back sporting events such as the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, ICC Women’s WC 2017, Pro Kabbadi League season 4 and the India vs New Zealand series. The third T20 match between India and New Zealand, earlier this month, was the top programme, garnering 16975 Impressions (000s) sum in BARC All India data week 45.
The last time SPN sports cluster took the top spot was in week 35 with 166753 Impressions (000s) sum at the time of third ODI match between India and Sri Lanka.
The tenth season of the T20 cricket tournament Indian Premier League (IPL) got the nation hooked with 1.25 billion impressions for the 59 matches played between 5 April and 21 May 2017 on Sony sports cluster, a 22.5 per cent jump compared to ninth season.
Let’s see how long Sony can manage to retain its peak position in BARC ratings of the sports genre. Despite the disappointment of the opening ceremony, the ISL may still work wonders for Star India.
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.
