News Headline
ICC Champions Trophy makes its presence felt Across Genres
BENGALURU: Indians are cricket crazy – a cliché if ever there was one – but a cliché that makes itself evident every time there is a major cricketing event. And an event such as the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 is sure to attract eyeballs galore.
Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data for week 23 of 2017 (Saturday, 3 June 2017 to Friday, 9 June 2017) – List of Top 10 Channels Across Genre: All India (U+R): 2+ Individuals revels the entry of three channels that air the Champions Trophy into its fold. Star Sports 1 Hindi at second place, DD National at ninth place and Star Sports 1 at tenth place entered this list, while Sony Max which had aired the T20 IPL season 10 that ended in week 21, exited the top 10 channels across genre list in week 23.
That the Champions Trophy is responsible for the high ratings of non-sports channel such as DD National is substantiated by the fact that two Champions Trophy matches – the one between India and arch rivals Pakistan and the one between India and its island neighbour Sri Lanka were amongst the top 5 most watched programmes for the Hindi GECand Hindi GEC – Rural and HindiGEC – Urbangenres in week 23 according to BARC data.Even in the case of the Hindi GEC – Urban genre, the Indo-Pak on DD-National match was the fifth most watched programme in week 23 of 2017.
Besides the channels that aired the Champions Trophy, one Tamil and Telugu GEC each and five Hindi GEC channels were also present in the list of top 10 channels across genres list for week 23.
As has been the norm, the Sun TV Network’s Tamil flagshipGEC Sun TV headed the list with weekly impressions of 1055.419 million, followed by Star Sports 1 Hindi with weekly impressions 777.806 million. Also from the Star India stable- its Hindi GEC flagship channel Star Plus stood third with 660.801 million impressions followed by Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) Sony Pal with 543.309 million weekly impressions.
Network 18’s Hindi GEC Rishtey was ranked fifth across genres in week 23 with weekly impressions of 532.853 million followed by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV with 522.673 million weekly impressions at sixth rank. Also from the Zeel stable was Hindi GEC Zee Anmol with weekly impressions of 490.769 million at seventh place followed by The Sun TV Networks Teluguflagship channel Gemini TV with 478.453 million impressions at eighth place.
DD National with 466.696 million weekly impressions stood ninth followed by Star Sports 1 with 462.214 million weekly impressions.
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.
