News Headline
Galwan Valley skirmish boosts news channels’ viewership in week 24
BENGALURU: The Indo-Chinese skirmish at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh on 15 June has grown Hindi news television consumption in Week 24 of 2020 (Saturday, 13 June 2020 to Friday, 19 June 2020, week or period under review) according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data for top 5 Hindi and English News channels. The combined consumption of the Top 5 Hindi Hews channels in urban and rural Hindi speaking markets or HSM (U+R) and English News in India viewership increased 32.7 percent and 43.3 percent respectively in Week 24 of 2020 as compared to the previous week. Consumption of News on Bangla, Marathi, Oriya, Tamil and Telugu News channels also increased week-on-week in Week 24 of 2020 by varying percentages, while Assamese, Kannada and Malayalam News channels experienced viewership dips.
And from the dip in viewership of Top 5 Hindi GEC channels during prime time, it seems that news channels have eaten into the viewership of Hindi GEC and movie channels. The combined weekly impressions of the Top 5 Hindi GEC programmes in HSM (U+R) during primetime (1800 to 2330 hours) declined 35.1 percent in Week 24 of 2020 as compared to Week 23. The combined weekly impressions of the Top 5 Hindi movies programmes in HSM (U+R) also declined 12.6 percent during the week under review as compared to the previous week.
Hindi news in HSM (U+R)
Hindi news in HSM (U+R) saw combined viewership increase by 32.7 percent week-on-week during the period under review as mentioned above. There were two new channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U+R) in Week 24 of 2020 as compared to Week 23. Two channels – ABP News and News18 India exited the list. The India Today Group's Aaj Tak retained its unassailable first rank in Week 24 of 2020 with a 44.2 percent growth in weekly impressions to 295.275 million from 204.732 million. India TV also retained second rank with 31.1 percent growth to 222.917 million weekly impressions from 170.011 million weekly impressions.
Zee News entered the Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U+R) list with 191.303 million weekly impressions. Republic Bharat dropped a place to fourth rank despite a 24.3 percent growth with 189.378 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 152.387 million weekly impressions in Week 23. TV9 Bharatvarsh also entered the list with 188.800 million weekly impressions.
Hindi news in HSM (U)
The Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U) saw consumption increase 30.2 percent week-on-week to 674.607 million weekly impressions from 518.345 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Four of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U) in Week 24 were the same as in the previous week – one channel that exited it was ABP News, which was replaced by Zee News.
Aaj Tak led the list with 41.1 percent growth to 181.668 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 128.777 million weekly impressions in the previous week. India TV also retained its second place in Week 24 of 2020 with 25.9 percent growth to 143.173 million weekly impressions as compared to 113.737 million weekly impressions. News18 India climbed a place to third rank in BARC’s weekly list of Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U) with 28.7 percent growth to 118.688 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 92.195 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Zee News entered the list in Week 24 of 2020 with 117.349 million weekly impressions. Republic Bharat dropped two places to fifth rank with 21.9 percent growth to 113.729 million weekly impressions from 93.275 million weekly impressions.
Hindi news in HSM (R)
The Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (R) saw consumption increase 38.8 percent week-on-week to 426.774 million weekly impressions from 307.400 million weekly impressions. Four of the channels in BARC’s Top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U) in Week 24 were the same as in the previous week – as in the case of Hindi news channels in HSM (U+R) one channel that exited it was ABP News and was replaced by Zee News.
Aaj Tak at first rank, saw a growth of 49.6 percent to 113.607 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 75.995 million weekly impressions. TV9 Bharatvarsh climbed up a place to second rank with a 44 percent growth to 83.820 million weekly impressions from 58.214 million weekly impressions. India TV climbed two places to third rank in Week 24 of 2020 with 41.7 percent growth to 79.744 million weekly impressions from 58.214 million weekly impressions. Republic Bharat dropped two places to fourth rank with 28 percent growth in Week 24 of 2020 to 75.649 million weekly impressions from 59.112 million weekly impressions. Zee News entered the list at fifth rank with 93.594 million weekly impressions.
English news
As mentioned above, the Top 5 English news channels saw a 43.3 percent increase to 15.310 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 10.687 million weekly impressions in the previous week. All the five channels in the list in Week 24 of 2020 was the same with shuffling of ranks as in Week 23. Retaining first rank with a 56.5 percent growth to 5.582 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 3.567 million weekly impression was the Arnab Goswami led Republic TV. Also retaining its previous week’s second week with 31.9 percent growth to 3.565 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 2.703 million weekly impressions in Week 23 was Times Now. India Today Television climbed up a place to third rank with a growth of 61.6 percent to 2.389 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 1.478 million weekly impressions in the previous week. CNN News18 dropped a place to fourth rank with a growth of 39.9 percent to 2.272 million weekly impressions in Week 24 of 2020 from 1.624 million weekly impressions in Week 23. DD India also retained its previous week’s fifth rank with a growth of 14.2 percent to 1.502 million weekly impressions in the week under review from 1.315 million weekly impressions in Week 23 of 2020.
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.
