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BARC India now a case study on TV audience data at IIM Calcutta
MUMBAI: India’s one of the premier management institute IIM Calcutta has developed a a case study on the TV viewership system in India. The case study traces the history of Television Viewership Measurement, leading up to the setting up of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.
The case study is based on an in-depth research done by IIM Calcutta faculty team of professors — Prashant Mishra and Chandradeep (CD) Mitra, which included interviews with former BARC India chairman and ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka, BARC India board member and GroupM CEO South Asia CVL Srinivas, Lodestar UM CEO Shashi Sinha, Marico MD & CEO Saugata Gupta, FCB Ulka Advertising Former ED & CEO Ambi Parameswaran, BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta, and BARC India CBO Romil Ramgarhia, among other.
The case study on BARC India is aimed at helping participants of various IIM Calcutta academic programmes, as well as students of other institutes, to hone their concepts learnt in marketing, media, organisational strategy & finance courses based on recent real–life developments in the Indian media industry.
As a prelude to launch of the case study, BARC India CEO Partho Dasgupta (who is also an IIM Calcutta alumnus), participated in an open house session at the institute to analyse the case study. The discussion was attended by Prof Mishra, professor of marketing at IIM Calcutta; Prof. Chandradeep (CD) Mitra, visiting professor of marketing at IIM Calcutta and the 161 students who have enrolled for the course “Sports, Entertainment & Media Marketing” designed by Prof. Mitra.
The case study will delve into the unique structure, financing model, state-of-the-art technologies and the multi-vendor construct of BARC India’s TV viewership measurement system, enabling it to become one of the most sophisticated and reliable TV measurement systems in the world.
“Piloting a case study before its final publication is a format where the protagonist himself meets the students, and the interaction allows the case to be further refined before its final publication. This is an acceptable methodology globally and we are pleased to introduce the same in India,” said Prof. Mitra.
Prof Mishra added, “BARC India’s success in designing and developing the meters is one of the finest examples of the ‘Make in India’ initiative and we’re extremely pleased to introduce a case on the company in our curriculum.”
“I had a great time sharing BARC India’s journey with students of IIM Calcutta. Giving them insights about our genesis, our greatest challenges, how we overcame it and what the future holds for us was exciting,” said Partho Dasgupta.
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.
