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BARC week 33: DD India returns to second rank in English news
BENGALURU: Pubcaster Doordarshan’s English news channel DD India has been ranked second or better for 10 weeks across 21 weeks starting week 13 to week 33 of 2019 (Saturday, 10 August 2019 to Friday, 16 August 2019, week or period under review). According to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data for top 5 English news channels in terms of viewership ratings, initially DD India was in a dingdong struggle for top slot with the Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV, a slot that the latter managed to wrest. During and post the weeks in which the National Election results were announced, DD India acceded second rank to Times Now and maintained third rank for seven weeks in a row after week 25 of 2019.DD India has returned to rank 2 after a hiatus of seven weeks in week 33 of 2019.
To allow for viewership to stabilise after the implementation of TRAI’s new tariff order, BARC India had stopped publishing ratings data in the public domain from week 6 of 2019. On the urging from TRAI, the ratings agency recommenced putting up data starting week 13 of 2019, hence that week has been used as a starting point in this report. Subsequently, BARC changed the manner in which it viewed landing pages and outliers – these actions in concert with other factors have been pulling down viewership numbers of the English news genre.
Please refer to the figure below:
The combined weekly impressions of the top 5 English news channels declined by 11.7 percent in week 33 of 2019 to 2.547 million weekly impressions as compared to 2.885 weekly impressions of the previous week as the interest about the events around the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) started to peter out. The average combined weekly impressions of the top 5 English news channels on analysing BARC data between week 13 and 33 are 2.466 million. The present week (week 44) has seen some more events around J&K as well as the taking into custody of former finance and home minister P Chidambaram. Whether these events will be enough to grow or at least sustain English news viewership has to be seen. Please refer to the figure below for combined viewership of top 5 English news channels in thousands (000s).
Let us see how the top 5 English news channels performed in week 33 of 2019
Except for DD India which saw a surge in viewership, the other channels in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 English news for week 33 of 2019 saw weekly impressions drop. The channels in the list in week 33 of 2019 were the same as in week 32 with a shuffling of ranks. DD India moved up to second rank, as did CNN News18 which moved up to fourth place.
Republic TV retained its first rank with 0.714 million weekly impressions in week 33 of 2019 as compared to 0.871 million weekly impressions in week 32. DD India moved to second rank during the week under review with 0.572 million weekly impressions as compared to third rank and 0.528 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Times Now slid a place to third rank with 0.550 million weekly impressions in week 33 of 2019 as compared to second rank and 0.630 million weekly impressions in week 32. CNN News18 moved up to fourth rank with 0.395 million weekly impressions as compared to fifth rank and 0.417 million weekly impressions in week 32. India Today Television slipped to fifth rank in week 33 of 2019 with 0.316 million weekly impressions as compared to fourth rank and 0.439 million weekly impressions in week 32. Please refer to the figure below:
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.
