News Headline
BARC week 23: Sun TV claws back to first place across genres, Star Sports 1 Hindi re-enters list
BENGALURU: The Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV was ranked one in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India’s (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 23 of 2019 (Saturday, 1 June 2019 to Friday, 7 June 2019, week under review). Enterr 10 TV’s Hindi GEC Dangal, the normal occupier of first place in non-IPL week’s after the implementation of TRAI’s new tariff order climbed down to second place during the week under review.
And now that ICC’s World Cup 2019 cricketing tourney is on, Star India’s Hindi Sports channel – Star Sports 1 Hindi re-entered BARC’s weekly across genres list at third rank in week 23 of 2019. Consequently, a number of channels dropped a rank in week 23 of 2019 as compared to their ranks in the previous week. Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) Hindi movies channel Sony Max also re-entered BARC’s across genres list on the back of SS Rajamouli’s Bahubali The Conclusion and old faithful Sooryavansham among other movies at tenth rank.
Six Hindi GECs, and one channel each from the Hindi movies, sports, Tamil and Telugu channels comprised BRAC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 23 of 2019. From the network’s perspective, there were three channels from the Star India fold, two channels each from SPN and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and one channel each from Enterr 10 TV, Sun TV Network and Viacom18 in the list.
As mentioned above, Sun TV was ranked one in week 23 of 2019 with 811.795 million weekly impressions as compared to second rank and 765.397 million weekly impressions in week 22. Sun TV also headed BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry markets and four of the top 5 Tamil programmes in this market based on average rating across all original airings in the week were aired on Sun TV.
Dangal TV at second rank in week 23 of 2019 garnered 805.510 million weekly impressions as compared to first rank and 884.884 million weekly impressions in week 22. Dangal also headed BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in the combined urban and rural Hindi speaking market -HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Dangal was ranked seventh in HSM (U). An Indian mythology programmes– Mahima Shanidev Ki and a family drama Baba Aiso Var Dhundo on Dangal were in BARC’s list of Top 5 Hindi GEC programmes based on average rating across all original airings in the week in HSM (R).
Star Sports 1 Hindi entered BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 23 of 2019 with 784.016 million weekly impressions at third rank. The channel was also ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Sports channels during the week under review. Further, four of the top 5 sports programmes on average rating across all original airings in the week were aired on Star Sports 1 Hindi.
Dropping a place to fourth rank in week 23 of 2019 was Zeel’s Hindi GEC Big Magic with 695.790 million weekly impressions as compared to third rank and 732.325 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Big Magic was ranked second in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Big Magic was ranked eighth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U). The Indian mythology drama Parmavtar Shree Krishna aired on Big Magic was present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes based on average rating across all original airings in the week in HSM (R).
Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa also dropped a rank to fifth place in week 23 of 2019 with 653.203 million weekly impressions as compared to fourth rank and 643.989 million weekly impressions in week 22. Star Maa was also ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu GECs in the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana markets and four of the five programmes in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu programmes based on average rating across all original airings in the week in these markets were aired on Star Maa.
Dropping down a place to sixth rank was Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus with 626.032 million weekly impressions as compared to fifth rank and 641.814 million weekly impressions in week 22. Star Plus was also ranked third, fourth and first in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively. The reboot of Balaji Telefilm’s Indian soap opera Kasauti Zindagi Kay on Star Plus was amongst BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes on average rating across all original airings in the week in HSM (U).
Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV also dropped a place to seventh rank with 612.470 million weekly impressions as compared to sixth rank and 628.588 million weekly impressions in week 22. Zee TV was ranked fourth in HSM (U+R), fifth in HSM (U) and was ranked third in HSM (R). The Balaji Telefilms-produced Kumkum Bhagya its spinoff Kundali Bhagya aired on Zee TV were among the top 5 Hindi GEC programmes based on average rating across all original airings in the week in HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U). Another programme on Zee TV -Tujhse Hai Raabta was also in BARC’s weekly list of the top 5 Hindi GEC programmes based on average rating across all original airings in the week in HSM (U+R).
SPN’s Hindi GEC Sony SAB retained its previous week’s eighth rank in week 23 of 2019 with 541.665 million weekly impressions as compared to 535.117 million weekly impressions in week 22. Sony SAB was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked fourth in HSM (U).
Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors dropped two ranks to ninth place in week 23 of 2019 with 536.639 million weekly impressions and seventh rank and 612.337 million weekly impressions in week 22. Colors was ranked sixth in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked third in HSM (U).
As mentioned above, SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max entered BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 23 of 2019 with 526.994 million weekly impressions. Sony Max was ranked second in BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 Hindi Movies channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) and was ranked first in HSM (R). Three movies on the channel – Bahubali 2 The Conclusion, Sooryavansham and Nela Ticket were among BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies programmes in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R), while Bahubali 2 The Conclusion and Sooryavansham were in the top 5 Hindi movies channels list in HSM (U).
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








