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BARC India floats initiatives to add new industry subscribers
MUMBAI: BARC India is looking at adding more broadcasters and agencies from the industry as subscribers by offering them various sops.
BARC India currently has more than 370 channels and agencies on board as subscribers, which comprise approximately 94 per cent of the total viewership of channels in India, whereas the agencies control about 95 per cent of the ad spends on television.
Now with its larger objective of inclusiveness, BARC India has decided to help all the other broadcasters and agencies to use its data and insights.
The television ratings monitoring agency has launched special initiatives together with the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) to motivate broadcasters and agencies who are yet to invest and subscribe for BARC India’s commercial services.
The highlights of the offerings for broadcasters are as follows:
- ‘Special Limited Period Offer’ with lease, rental and buy-back option
- Limited period offer, closes on 15 August, 2015
- Installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance for entire contract period would be taken care by Cineom, the authorised resellers of watermarking equipment of Civolution.
- Post placing the order with Cineom, broadcasters can subscribe to BARC India’s commercial services
Highlights of the offerings for agencies are as follows:
- Special Prime and Supreme packages have been designed for small and medium sized ad agencies
- A special discount is especially being offered for AAAI member agencies
Star India CEO and IBF president Uday Shankar says, “As a joint industry body – BARC India has always kept the interest of industry stakeholders at the forefront. I look forward to newer broadcasters joining this special initiative designed to facilitate and ease the financial burden. This will help the broadcast ecosystem in India.”
AAAI president M G Parameswaran adds, “I am happy that BARC India has extended a special offer to small and medium sized ad agency members of AAAI, our largest constituency. I am hopeful that many of them will avail of this special offer, join the movement and benefit from the state-of-art rating systems offered by BARC 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.
