News Headline
Comedy Central, Star Movies & Discovery dominate respective genres
MUMBAI: Comedy Central toppled Zee Café in English entertainment genre while Star Movies emerged as the new leader in the English movies space.
According to week 23 of BARC India, 6 Mega Cities : NCCS AB : 4+ Individuals rating, the English entertainment space observed mixed ratings while the English movies genre observed a substantial decline in its viewership data this week.
There was a slight change in the pecking order of the top five infotainment channels for BARC week 23 when compared to week 22 data. Animal Planet and Nat Geo Wild traded places. The latter moved up one spot forcing the latter down to the last place. The Lifestyle genre saw no shifts among the top five channels as compared to the previous week.
English Entertainment
Comedy Central toppled Zee Café dominating the genre with 315 Impressions (000s). Zee Café grabbed second spot with 257 Impressions (000s) followed by Star World with 163 Impressions (000s). Colors Infinity SD took the fourth place with 154 Impressions (000s) while AXN bagged the fifth spot with 120 Impressions (000s).
English Movies
Star Movies replaced Movies Now bagging the number one slot with 2842 Impressions (000s) followed by Movies Now at the second place with 2503 Impressions (000s). Sony Pix secured the third position with 1844 Impressions (000s). Zee Studio grabbed fourth position with 1673 Impressions (000s) and HBO took the fifth spot with 1340 Impressions (000s).
Infotainment
Discovery retained top position with 4783 Impressions (000s) followed by History TV18 that also retained second position with 3813 Impressions (000s). National Geographic Channel with 3721 Impressions (000s) stood at third position while Nat Geo Wild moved up to fourth position with 2881 Impressions (000s). Animal Planet with 2709 Impressions (000s) moved down to fifth position.
Lifestyle
Living Foodz held its first position in week 23 with 1623 Impressions (000s), Home Shop 18 with 750 Impressions (000s) held second spot. Fox Life with 685 Impressions (000s) followed on third spot. Shop Cj with 455 Impressions (000s) and Food Food with 422 Impressions (000s) secured fourth and fifth positions respectively.
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.
