News Headline
Sun, Zeel, Star India channels continue presence in across genres lists
BENGALURU: It’s festival season in India. Channels from three major networks in India continue finding presence in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) top 10 channels across genres All India (U+R): 2+ individuals. Sun TV from the Sun Network continued its pole position in the top 10 channels list in week 40 of 2017 (Saturday, 30 September 2017 to Friday, 6 October 2017. Two Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) channels have consistently been leading the Hindi GEC channels band, while three Star India channels (4 Star India channels in week 38 of 2017) have been present in the top 10 channels across genres weekly grouping. In week 40 of 2017, three Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) channels were also present in the weekly top 10 channels across genre table.
As mentioned above – three channels each from the Star Network and SPN, two channels from Zeel and one channel each from the Sun Network and Network 18 (Viacom 18) were present in the BARC weekly top 10 channels across genres tally for week 40 of 2017. From the genre/languages perspective, seven Hindi GEC, one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Tamil GEC and Telugu GEC genres were present in the weekly top 10 channels lists across channels’ group in week 40 of 2017.
Sun TV continued its unassailable rule over the weekly across genres band with 1,114.363 million weekly impressions (sum) at first place, followed by Zeel’s FTA channel Zee Anmol with 788.250 million weekly impressions (sum) at second place. Zee Anmol had strong support from Kaala Teeka in Hindi GEC and Kaala Teeka and Jamai Raja which were among BARC’s top 5 primetime programmes in the Hindi GEC –HSM (U+R) and Hindi GEC HSM (R) markets respectively. At third place was Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV with 665.989 million weekly impressions (sum), strongly supported by Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya in BARC’s top 5 primetime Hindi GEC – HSM (U+R) market and Hindi GEC – HSM (U) markets.
Fear Factor – Khatron Ke Khiladi Pain in Spain among BARC’s top 5 primetime programmes in Hindi GEC HSM (U+R) weekly results and Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi Pain in Spain and Udaan in the Hindi GEC HSM (U) weekly results for week 40 of 2017 helped Network 18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors to fourth place with 661.538 million weekly impressions (sum). Kaun Banega Crorepati’s (KBC) presence in BARC’s top 5 categories of Hindi GEC – HSM (U+R) and Hindi GEC HSM – (U) markets during primetime helped SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television to fifth place in BARC’s across genres table with 647.825 million weekly impressions (sum) in week 40 of 2017.
Star India’s renamed Hindi GEC Star Bharat was placed sixth in the across genres tally for week 40 of 2017 with 632.766 million weekly impressions (sum), followed by SPN’s Hindi Movies channel Sony Max with 615.63 million weekly impressions (sum) at seventh place. Hindi Feature Films’ Bahubali the beginning in BARC’s weekly categories of top 5 programmes for Hindi Movies (U+R) and Bahubali the beginning, Sultan and Raj Mahal 3 in BARC’s weekly results of top 5 programmes for Hindi Movies (U) helped Sony Max to return to BARC’s top 5 channels across genres list after a hiatus.
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus was ranked eighth in BARC’s weekly list across genres tally for week 40 of 2017 with 551.267 million weekly impressions (sum). SPN’s women oriented Hindi GEC Sony Pal was ranked ninth in the category with 549.725 million weekly impressions (sum) followed by Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa with 524.551 million weekly impressions (sum) at tenth place.
Please refer to the list below for BARC data for top 10 channels across genres for weeks 38 to 40.
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.








