News Headline
Holi, elections rake in ratings for channels in week 11 of 2017
BENGALURU: Programmes during the Indian festival of colours and assembly elections results counting in five states of the country were television eyeball grabbers for a number of channels as per data released by Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) for week 11 of 2017 (Saturday, 11 March 2017 to Friday, 17 March 2017). The results of efforts to gain audience reaped fruit across genres – be it the Hindi speaking markets aka Hindi GECs’ and regional GEC’s, news channels in Hindi and English.
Here are some programmes, mainly from the Zeel stable of channels which aired those programmes that raked in ratings.
In the Hindi GEC space, BARC data for HSM 2+ years shows that a couple of programs from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) network channel &TV and one programme from Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) Big Magic gained huge eyeballs around the time of Holi.
On Sunday, 12 March during the 20:59 to 23:24 hours primetime band Delhi-based Farhan Sabir won the singing reality show The Voice India Season 2 and walked away with a cheque of Rs 25 lakh and a Maruti Suzuki Alto K10. The Competition show on &TV garnered 1,557 Impressions (000s).
Hokar mast malang, manaiye ‘Rishton ke Rang, &TV ke Sang’ – this special Holi show on &TV managed 2,649 Impressions (000s) on Tuesday 14 March 2017 between 20:58 and 22:32 hours.
Rang Barse on Big Magic had 524 Impressions (000s) on Sunday 12 March 2017 during the 20:00 to 21:30 hours primetime band.
In the regional space, another Zeel network channel – Zee Telugu’s Holi celebration programme garnered a massive 3,208 Impressions (000s) on Sunday between 14:00 and 18:02 hours.
In the Odisha market Zeel’s Odia channel Sarthak TV saw two of its programmes on two consecutive days have big ratings gains. ‘Sarthak Holi Maha Utsab’ on Sunday 12 March 2017 during the 18:29 to 21:49 hours time slot gathered 1,018 Impressions (000s). On the following day – 13 March 2017, the launch episode of its serial ‘Jiban Sathi’ had a massive 1,943 Impressions (000s) during the primetime slot of 19:59 to 20:30 hours slot.
Another Odia channel Tarang TV which aired the world premiere of Odia film Love Pain Kuch Bhi Karega had 889 Impressions (000s) during the run time of 14:00 – 17:11 hours on Sunday 12 March 2017. Another programme – Holi Utsav on the same channel had ratings of 498 Impressions (000s).
Performance of News Genre on five states assembly elections result day also saw gains. The Hindi News genre in the HSM market 15+ years saw 365,586 Impressions (000s) Sums as per BARC Data. On the same day, the English News genre Sec (A+B) Male 22+ years saw ratings of 1,944 Impressions (000s) Sums.
ABP News led the Hindi News Genre with 65,555 Impressions (000s) Sums followed by Aaj Tak with 56,955 Impressions (000s) Sums.
Times Now led the English News genre by far on Assembly Elections result day with 858.57 Impressions (000s) Sums, followed by CNN News18 with 469.77 Impressions (000s) Sums.
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.
