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Barc Wk36 – Wk39: News18 leads in HSM
Mumbai: Network18 group’s News18 has been having a safe and stable ride with its national Hindi as well as English news channels leading the show for several months in a row. It has now claimed leadership across all key Hindi-speaking markets (HSM).
According to Barc data in Wk36–Wk39,TG: 15+, News18 Network has a 15.4 per cent market share, making it the country’s largest TV news network.
News18 Bihar Jharkhand is the number one news channel in the state with a market share of 97.7 per cent. News18 UP & Uttarakhand, too, has topped the charts with a market share of 28.6 per cent, as compared to ABP Ganga’s market share of 26.2 per cent.
News18 Rajasthan is the leading channel in the state with a market share of 57.9 per cent compared to 1st India News’ 31.6 per cent and India News Rajasthan’s 9.6 per cent.
News18 Punjab/Haryana has claimed the key position too, with a market share of 32.1 per cent, compared to PTC News, Living India News, and MH One Prime’s 30.6 per cent, 22.1 per cent and 10.8 per cent respectively.
Launched almost 45 days ago, News18 JKLH too has grabbed the top slot with a market share of 39.2 per cent compared to JKL 24×7 News and Gulistan News’ 36.1 per cent, and 24.7 per cent, respectively.
Commenting on the viewership data, Network18 CEO of Hindi news Karan Abhishek Singh said, “News18 India has been the number one national Hindi news channel for several months now. Now, News18 regional channels have claimed leadership across all key Hindi-speaking markets. It’s a message of great trust that our viewers have placed in us.”
According to Barc ratings, News18 India bagged a 15.8 per cent market share in weeks 36–39, HSM-urban+rural, as compared to the 13 per cent share of TV9 Bharatvarsh and Aaj Tak’s 12.7 per cent.
In the prime time slot of 2100-2200 hours (TG: 15+, HSM), News18 India’s Kishore Ajwani is ahead of Aaj Tak by 3.5 per cent with a 17.9 per cent market share in comparison to Aaj Tak’s Sudhir Chaudhary, who holds 14.4 per cent.
Going strong on its leadership, CNN-News18, the English news channel of the Network18 group, has also fortified its position as the primary English news channel in the country by securing a market share of 31.6 per cent, as per Barc data (Wk36 – Wk 39, TG: 15+, HSM). Meanwhile, Republic TV holds the second slot with 26.6 per cent, and Times Now is in the third position with a 26.1 per cent market share.
Even on the digital front, the News18 brands have been garnering solid traction, with their views increasing steadily across YouTube and other social media platforms.
News18 has been heavily investing in technology and editorial resources to ensure that its content and presentation remain uniquely curated for the audience and far ahead of the competition.
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.
