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Hindi GECs see 8% growth in non-prime slots: BARC-Nielsen
MUMBAI: Hindi GEC saw eight percent growth in non-prime time slots in 2020 as compared to 2019, revealed the tenth edition of BARC-Nielsen data. However, there is a dip of two per cent in prime time shows. Kids non-prime time shows saw a growth of 32 per cent and in prime time shows it is 28 per cent.
In week 26, TV viewership is 15 per cent higher than pre-Covid2019 times. Apart from that, TV viewership peaked by 43 percent in week 13. In week 26, daily viewing reach continues to be over 600 million.
Average daily time spent on television is higher than pre-Covid2019 times but it is lower than usual peak time. The data also reveals that the total number of channels watched per viewer has decreased from the peak. In week 13 it was 23 channels which has now declined to 19 channels in week 26.
GEC channels have dominated the television market. The data highlights that TV consumption is higher than pre-Covid2019 time across all markets. The Hindi speaking market has seen a growth of 49 per cent.
The data also reveals that the share of GECs has consistently increased in the past five weeks. From being at 52 percent in the pre-Covid2019 times it has seen a decline in week 22, but it picked from there and now it is at 48 per cent in week 26.
Apart from Hindi GEC, kids and English GECs are also performing better in non-prime time slots as compared to prime time. GECs that recently chose to be on free platforms have seen growth.
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.
