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BARC India & Israeli company explore customised digital measurement tools
NEW DELHI: The Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC India) is said to be in talks with an Israeli media technology company to customise for it tools for digital measurement, which is likely to be rolled out in phases from sometime in 2017 or early 2018 and could go on to make BARC India an organisation measuring TV+digital eco-systems.
After having issued Request for Information (RfI) for digital measurement in December 2015 and having received responses from 11 leading vendors from across the world, BARC India had come out last year Request for Proposals for the same.
BARC India is presently working on digital proof of concept that will help it in testing different technologies, methodologies and potential capabilities of the shortlisted vendors.
The companies that had responded to the RfI included agencies such as Kantar Media, IMRB, ComScore, Nielsen, MediaMetrie, Gracenote (in December 2016 it entered into an agreement to be acquired by Nielsen), Informate, GfK, Accenture, EY, eywa Media, Gemius and Verto Analytics.
It was in October 2015 that BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta had announced at a panel discussion on new TAM models at CASBAA Convention in Hong Kong that the audience measurement organisation was looking at launching digital measurement and will float a global tender for vendor(s).
Industry sources indicated that the Israeli company could be Actus Digital, a global provider of broadcast media and video technologies, and that the exploratory talks between the company and BARC India could be revolving around customising measurement tools for India instead of simply re-deploying universal tools generally used by big companies for digital data collection.
However, it must be admitted that Indiantelevision.com could not independently confirm the name of the Israeli company from either BARC India or the company concerned till the time of writing this report.
The barely two-year-old BARC India, which initially focussed on measuring TV viewing habits via BAR-O-Meters through watermarking technology, is now expanding into the digital realm.
BARC India is jointly promoted by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with the latter two organisations holding 20 per cent each, while the broadcasting body holds 60 per cent.
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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.
