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BARC week 25: DD India back in second spot
BENGALURU: Pubcaster Doordarshan’s English news channel DD India was ranked second in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India’s (BARC) weekly list of top five English news channels in week 25 of 2019 (Saturday, 15 June 2019 to Friday, 21 June 2019, week or period under review). DD India made it to second spot after a hiatus of four weeks. Earlier the Doordarshan Network’s English news channel was involved in a dingdong battle for the pole position with the Arnab Goswami-headed Republic TV between weeks 13 and 19 of 2019 until Republic TV overtook it.
There was a slight improvement in the combined total of the impressions garnered by the top 5 English news channels in week 25 as compared week 24. Many genres/channels ratings had plunged in week 23 when BARC reverted to a previous method of treating landed changes and outliers. Ratings of some channels/genres had plunged even further in week 24. It must be pointed out that around the same time (week 23 of 2019), ICC’s cricket World Cup 2019 being played at England and Wales commenced. Because of the difference in time zones, the second part of the matches overlapped and over shot primetime slots of most channels including news channels in India, hence probably impacting ratings.
Earlier, BARC had stopped publishing ratings in the public domain for seven weeks starting week 6 of 2019 until week 12 to enable viewership stabilise after the implementation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) new tariff order.
In week 25 of 2019, three channels from BARC’s weekly list of top 5 English news channels saw gains in ratings, while ratings of two fell. Republic TV continued to head BARC’s weekly list of English news channels with 0.572 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2019 as compared to 0.556 million weekly impressions in the previous week. As mentioned above, DD India was ranked second with much improved ratings of 0.441 million weekly impressions as compared to 0.334 million weekly impressions and third rank in week 24.
At third rank was Times Now with 0.402 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2019 as compared to 0.418 million weekly impressions and second rank in week 24. Moving up a place to fourth rank in the period under review was the India Today group’s English news channel India Today Television with 0.264 million weekly impressions as compared to 0.251 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2019. Completing the quintet at rank 5 was CNN News18 with 0.261 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2019 as compared to rank four and 0.289 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.
