News Headline
Colors continues as most watched pay TV Hindi GEC across genres
BENGALURU: Network18/Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors had climbed up to rank 3 in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms in week 3 of 2020 (previous week or period). Colors is a pay TV channel. Enterr10 Television’s free-to-air (FTA) Hindi GEC Dangal had regained top spot after a short hiatus of one week from the Sun Tv Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV in the previous week.The same ranking status continued on in week 4 of 2020 (Saturday, 25 January 2020 to Friday, 31January 2020, week or period under review). Hence Colors was the most watched pay TV Hindi GEC in week 4 of 2020 for the second week in a row.
As a matter of fact, the first seven ranks during the period under review in BARC’s top 10 channels across genres on all platforms weekly list were the same in rank and file as in the previous week. Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) pay TV flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) pushed up one place to eighth rank in week 4 of 2020 from week 3, while Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) flagship Kannada GEC Zee Kannada dropped a place to ninth rank. Viacom18’s kids channel Nick exited BARC’s weekly across genres on all platforms list in week 4 of 2020 and was replaced by Zeel’s Hindi Movies channel Zee cinema.
Six Hindi GECs’ and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu genres made up BARC’s Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms in week 4 of 2020. There were three channels from Zeel, two channels each from SPN and Star India and one channel each from Enterr 10 Television, Sun Tv Network and Viacom18/Network18 in the list in week 4 of 2020. Nine of the channels were on the pay platform and one channel was FTA.
The combined ratings of the Top 10 Channels Across Genres on All Platforms in week 4 of 2020 were lower than those of the previous week.
Please refer to the figure below:
Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020
Sun TV continued its run as the most watched pay channel in week 4 of 2020. It topped BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020. The first six ranks in week 4 of 2020 were the same as in week 3. SET climbed to eighth rank, while Zee Kannada dropped to ninth rank in week 4 of 2020 as compared to the previous period. Viacom18’s Nick was replaced at tenth rank by Zee Cinema during the period under review.
Five Hindi GECs’, two Telugu GECs’ and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Kannada and Tamil genres comprised BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020. There were three channels from Zeel, two channels each from SPN, Star India and Network18/Viacom18 and one channel from the Sun Tv Network in BARC’s weeklylist of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020. The combined ratings of the Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020 were lower than those of the previous week.
Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020
The first 4 channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020 were the same as in the previous week. Enterr10 TV’s Bhojpuri channel Bhojpuri Cinema jumped up three places to fifth rank during the week under review from its previous week’s eighth position. Zeel’s Music channel Zing entered the list at ninth rank, while pubcasterDoordarshan’s Sports channel DD Sports exited BARC weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020.
Four Bhojpuri channels, two channels each from the Hindi GEC and Hindi Movies genres and one channel each from the Marathi and Music genres made up BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020. From the network’s perspective, there were four channels each from Enterr10 Television and Zeel and two channels from B4U network in the list in week 4 of 2020. Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres in week 4 of 2020.
Of note was Zeel’snew Bhojpuri channel Zee Biskope – the channel retained its place and rank in its second week since coming under BARC’s ambit.
Please refer to the chart below:
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








