News Headline
BARC week 27: Sony sports cluster captures all top five slots
MUMBAI: The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia continues its strong run for football viewership in India in its fourth week and guided Sony Pictures Network (SPN) India’s sports cluster to obtain all top five positions in the BARC all India ratings.
The tournament that is being telecast live on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3 and Sony ESPN channels and live streamed on SonyLIV app and website.
According to BARC, Sony Ten 3 is at the top spot with 149384 impressions (000s) sum, followed by Sony Ten2 with 146283 impressions (000s) sum. Sony Six, Sony Ten1 and Sony ESPN were the other channels in the list in week 27 data.
According to the broadcaster, the network’s sports channel and Sony LIV’s total cumulative reach of the tournament is 192.7 million viewers for 58 matches which includes the viewership of live matches, wraparound shows, highlights, repeats, surround programming of FIFA World Cup for a TG of All India CS2+.
If the broadcaster’s live streaming numbers are to be believed, Sony crossed 96 million viewers across India on the sports cluster TV channels. The channel has got most of its live traction from West Bengal with 20.4 million reach followed by Kerala with 16.9 million reach. Rural market has also shown some interest in FIFA and clocked 63.1 million viewers
According to BARC, top three matches till now were Nigeria versus Argentina, Japan versus Senegal and Korea versus Mexico with 5.1 million, 4.6 million and 4.3 million impressions across India for a TG above 2+.
SPN India also informed that 47 per cent of the overall viewership is contributed by local language feeds like Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil and Telugu.
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.
