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BARC week 38: Hindi News ratings fall as AajTak continues dominance
BENGALURU: Hindi News ratings continued their decline in week 38 of 2019 (Week 38: Saturday, 14 September 2019 to Friday, 20 September 2019, period or week under review). After the big jump in ratings in week 21 0f 2019 when the opinion polls followed by results of the national elections, Hindi News ratings had witnessed a steep decline. The abrogation of Article 370 and the formation of the new union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 5 August 2019 during week 32 of 2019 saw ratings peak a bit once again, only to gradually climb down. Weekly data of Top 5 Hindi News channels sourced from Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) reveals that the combined total of ratings of the top 5 Hindi News channels in the combined urban (U) and rural (R) Hindi speaking market (HSM) dipped 13 percent in week 38 of 2019 as compared to the previous week. Ratings of the Top 5 Hindi News channels in the urban market – HSM (U) declined 14 percent as compared to a 11 percent fall in the case of HSM (R) during the period under review. BARC data has more weightage for the urban markets as compared to the rural markets.
AajTak from the India Today Group continued its unimpeded and uninterrupted dominance of the Hindi News genre in HSM (U+R), HSM (U) and HSM (R). Please refer to the figures below for the combined ratings of the top 5 Hindi News channels in HSM (U+R), HSM (U) and HSM (R) respectively.
Top 5 channels of the Hindi News genre in week 38 of 2019 in HSM (U+R)
The combined weekly ratings of the Top 5 Hindi News channels in HSM (U+R) declined 13 percent to 511.897 million impressions in week 38 of 2019 as compared to 587.374 million weekly impressions in week 37. While the same channels were present in BARC’s weekly list in HSM (U+R), there was some shuffling in ranks between the two weeks. All the channels witnessed decline in ratings in week 38 of 2019 as compared to week 38.
AajTak at rank one, witnessed a 16 percent decline in ratings during the period under review in HSM (U+R) to 114.016 million weekly impressions from 134.965 million weekly impressions in week 37. India TV jumped up two places to second rank in week 38 of 2019 with 101.656 million weekly impressions despite a 7 percent decline in viewership from 109.803 million weekly impressions and fourth rank in week 37.
Zee News slipped a place to third rank in week 38 of 2019 with 100.993 million weekly impressions, a drop of 17 percent as compared to 121.535 million weekly impressions and second rank in the previous week. News18 India also dropped a place to fourth rank in week 38 of 2019 with 99.771 million weekly impressions, a 10 percent decline from the 111.695 million weekly impressions and third rank in week 37. ABP News retained its rank 5 in the list in week 38 of 2019 with 95.261 million weekly impressions which was 13 percent lower than the 109.376 million weekly impressions in week 38.
Top 5 channels of the Hindi News genre in week 38 of 2019 in HSM (U)
The combined weekly impressions of the top 5 Hindi News channels in HSM (U) declined 14 percent to 294.229 million weekly impressions in week 38 of 2019 from 340.308 million weekly impressions in the previous week. The five channels in the list for both the weeks – weeks 38 and 37 of 2019 were the same, however, with a shuffling in ranks.
Continuing on at rank 1 in week 38 of 2019, AajTak witnessed a 15 percent drop in ratings in HSM (U) to 65.773 million weekly impressions as compared to 77.704 million weekly impressions in week 37. Climbing up a place to second rank, News18 India saw its ratings decline 11 percent to 61.067 million weekly impressions in week 38 of 2019 from 68.636 million weekly impressions and third rank in the previous week. Zee News dropped a place to third rank and saw its ratings decline 19 percent in week 38 of 2019 to 58.824 million weekly impressions from second rank and 72.467 million weekly impressions in week 37. India TV retained rank 4 in week 38 of 2019 with a decline of 9 percent in viewership to 58.101 million weekly impressions from 64.100 million weekly impressions in week 37. ABP News retained fifth place in week 38 of 2019 with a 12 percent decline in ratings to 50.464 million weekly impressions from 57.401 million weekly impressions in week 37.
Top 5 channels of the Hindi News genre in week 38 of 2019 in HSM (R)
The combined weekly impressions of the Top 5 Hindi News channels in HSM (R) declined 11 percent to 219.734 million weekly impressions in week 38 of 2019 from 247.066 million weekly impressions in week 37. The first four channels in the week under review were the same as in the previous week, while the ArnabGoswami-associated Republic Bharat re-entered BARC’s weekly list of Top 5 Hindi News channels in HSM (R) as News18 India exited it. There was a shuffling of places between ranks three and four in week 38 of 2019.
AajTak, at rank one, saw its viewership decline by 16 percent to 48.244 million weekly impressions in week 38 of 2019 from 57.261 million weekly impressions in week 37. ABP News at second rank saw its ratings drop 15 percent to 44.797 million weekly impressions from 51.975 million weekly impressions and second rank in week 37. India TV climbed a place to third rank in week 38 of 2019 despite a decline of 5 percent to 43.554 million weekly impressions as compared to fourth rank and 45.703 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Zee News dropped a place to fourth rank in week 38 of 2019 with a 14 percent reduction in viewership to 42.169 million weekly impressions from third rank and 49.068 million weekly impressions in week 37. Republic Bharat re-entered BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi News channels in HSM (R) with 40.970 million weekly impressions.
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.
