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Food content dominates viewership on lifestyle channels
MUMBAI: Living foodz seems to rule the roost among all other lifestyle channels on Indian television. The channel not only has a large female fan following but also a substantial male viewership that craves food content.
In what seems to be a trend, Indian audiences prefer to watch food shows. Some of the most watched shows include The Great Indian Rasoi (14 Impressions [000s] sum) and The Dream Kitchen (11 Impressions [000s] sum) in week 47 of 2017. Living Foodz leads the charts as four of its shows feature in the lifestyle genre’s top-five programmes.
Top 5 Programmes in the lifestyle genre:
TG : 6 Mega Cities, 2+ AB
All Days, 24 hrs
Wk 47’2017
According to BARC data, Living Foodz emerged as the leader in weeks 40 to 47 with average 1375 Impressions (000s) sum. Fox Life (average 900 Impressions [000s] sum), TLC, Food Food and Travel XP HD stood at second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively with, 568 Impressions (000s) sum, 520 Impressions (000s) sum and 314 Impressions (000s) sum respectively.
Bafflingly, the 2-14 years age group makes up for a significant portion of the viewership in the genre as compared to the age bracket of 15-21 years. The viewership of males and females is nearly identical rebuffing the notion that lifestyle channels are predominantly watched by women.
Male-Female and Age wise split for the genre
TG: 6 Mega Cities
Impressions ‘000s
Talking about the weekend slots, according to BARC data, Living Foodz—Northern Flavours Meethi Masti and Fox life’s Bikini Destination were at the first and second positions in week 47 with 10 Impressions (000s) sum. Moreover, Living Foodz—Soups and Salads, Fox Life’s Follow Donal and FYI TV18’s Food Paradise were at the third, fourth and fifth positions with 9 Impressions (000s) sum, 8 Impressions (000s) sum and 7 Impressions (000s) sum respectively.
Fox Life last emerged as the leader in the lifestyle genre, according to BARC’s all-India data in week 36, dethroning Living Foodz from the pole position.
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.
