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Ad volumes for Jan-Feb 2021 highest since 2017: BARC India
MUMBAI: In a piece of good news for the industry battered by the pandemic, the latest data from television monitoring agency Broadcasting Audience Research Council (BARC) shows the combined TV ad volume for the months of January and February in 2021 was the highest since 2017.
The advertising sector is on a path to revival and the gains made during the second half of 2020 have seeped into the first two months of 2021. According to the data, the ad volumes have increased by 21 per cent over last year. “Continuing the momentum built in the second half of 2020, TV ad volumes have had the most promising start with January and February ad volume levels of 2021 being the highest ever in five years. A lot of sectors/categories, and key non-FMCG brands, also seem to have increased their presence on TV during this period which augurs well for the medium,” said BARC India client partnership and revenue function head Aaditya Pathak.
In terms of genres, movies and music + youth registered higher growth than the average growth in the overall ad volumes which was 25 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. This was followed by GEC and news with 21 per cent and 18 per cent growth respectively during Jan-Feb 2021 over the same period in 2020.
The top ten advertisers drove the ad volumes on TV, contributing 45 per cent to the total share and recorded 35 per cent growth over last year. The next 40 advertisers rode alongside with 25 per cent growth during Jan-Feb this year.
2020 also witnessed new entrants in TV advertising and the rise of advertisers in the digital segment, especially those from the e-commerce segment. The phenomenon holds true for the current period in consideration as well. E-commerce grew by 21 per cent in Jan-Feb 2021, showing a consistent growth year-on-year in TV advertising. Other categories like retail and building, industry, and land materials also saw an increase in spends this year, compared to 2020.
Brands including Lizol, Dettol, and Harpic emerged as the most advertised brands during the period. Several non-FMCG Brands also increased their presence on TV during this period.
With a promising start to the year, the expectations for higher ad spends have definitely gone up for the coming months. The upcoming national and international sports events are also expected to bolster the trend as advertisers continue to keep TV as their preferred choice of platform to reach out to the millions of homes across 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.
