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BARC news 42: English news viewership steady over 3 consecutive weeks
BENGALURU: The combined ratings of the Top 5 English news channels for weeks 40, 41 and 42 of 2019 was 1.092 million, 1,878 million and 1.888 million impressions respectively according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data. The channels in the list during all the three weeks were the same, albeit with a small tweak in ranks. As has become a norm, the Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV has topped the ranks for the last twenty weeks in a row between week 23 of 2019 and week 42 of 2019 – the latest week for which BARC’s ratings data is available at the time of writing of this report. During this 20-week period, Times Now has been ranked second for 16 weeks, while pubcaster DD India was ranked second for four weeks. Ranks four and five have been the domains of Network18’s CNN News18 and the India Today Group’s India Today Television. Please refer to the chart below for combined weekly impressions of the Top 5 English news Channels in thousands of impressions followed by the chart of Ranks of Top English news channels.
Ratings in Week 42 (Saturday, 12 October 2019 to Friday, 18 October 2019)
The combined weekly ratings of the top 5 English news channels in week 42 of 2019 increased slightly to 1.888 million weekly impressions from 1.878 million weekly impressions in week 41. Three channels – Republic TV, CNN News18 and India Today Television gained viewership while DD India and Times Now saw viewership decline during week 42 of 2019. The biggest gainer in viewership was CNN News18, while DD India saw the steepest decline during the week under review.
Please refer to the chart below.
At rank one, Republic TV saw a small increase in viewership to 0.581 million weekly impressions in week 42 of 2019 as compared to rank one and 0.579 million weekly impressions in week 41. Times Now climbed back to second rank during the week under review with slightly lower ratings of 0.409 million weekly impressions as compared to third rank and 0.416 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Dropping a place in week 42 of 2019 to third rank was DD India with 0.403 million weekly impressions as compared to second rank and 0.433 million weekly impressions in week 41.
Also climbing up a place to fourth rank was CNN News 18 in week 42 of 2019 with 0.252 million weekly impressions as compared to fifth rank and 0.219 million weekly impressions in week 41. Completing the quintet was India Today Television in week 42 of 2019 with 0.243 million weekly impressions as compared to fourth rank and 0.231 million weekly impressions in the previous week.
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.
