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DD National sees major ratings surge with BARC rural data
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan, which was not long back irked at being ignored by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, has emerged as the most watched channel in terms of time spent per viewer and has left behind top touted Hindi general entertainment channels (GECs) with the release of the rural ratings data.
DD National registered an Average Time Spent (ATS) of 53 minutes and 39 seconds, which is the highest among Hindi GECs in week 41 according to BARC ratings.
According to DD, this indicated that after tuning to the channel, viewers preferred to continuously watch the channel for a longer duration of time rather than frequently switching the channels, as compared to other GECs.
The channel also witnessed a significant rise in ratings and moved upto the seventh position according to BARC data in Hindi Speaking Markets (HSM), NCCS All, which comprises All India (U+R) in the week 41.
According to the data, the channel’s gross viewership in lakhs (GVL) rose from 479.9 lakhs in week 40 to a “massive” 4040.5 lakhs in week 41. “This monumental development comes in as BARC released the much awaited All India data, which includes rural India for the very first time,” DD said.
Of the total 153.5 million TV households tracked by BARC, representing All India and all modes of signal, 77.5 million are urban TV households and 76 million are rural TV households.
According to DD, this spurt in the channel’s viewership can also be attributed to its current strategy of providing viewers with fresh content, supplemented by a robust publicity campaign; thus creating an active awareness of the changing face of Doordarshan.
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.
