News Headline
India-Pakistan clash puts soaps on backburner
MUMBAI: Broadcasters MAX, Sony and Doordarshan would all be on cloud nine if every cricket match could be one between India and Pakistan.
According to TAM figures for the week ended 1 March 2003, MAX has bagged 29 of the top 50 programmes. By doing so, it has dethroned Star Plus, which has had a stranglehold on the top 50 for quite a while now.
The following is the progression of TVRs for soaps prior to the World Cup until they were dethroned by the cricket matches – from the beginning of the year right up to the India-Pakistan match. The sample programmes chosen are the top 30-minute and 60-minute serials in various time prime time slots.
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Programme
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Jan first week
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Feb pre- World Cup
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Feb (first week)
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Feb (second week)
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23 Feb to 1 March
|
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (10:30 – 11 pm)
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9.94 (7 Jan) Ranked 1 for the week
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10.91 (5 Feb) Ranked 1 for the week
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10.53 ( 13 Feb) Ranked 1 for the week
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10.6 (17 Feb) Ranked 2 for the week
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10.2 (25 Feb) Ranked 11 for the week
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Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki(10 – 10:30 pm)
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9.68 (6 Jan) Ranked 2 for the week
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10.33 (5 Feb) Ranked 2 for the week
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10.25 (12 Feb) Ranked 2 for the week
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10.7 (17 Feb) Ranked 1 for the week
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10.5 (25 Feb) Ranked 10 for the week)
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Desh Mein Nikla Hoga Chand (9 – 10 pm)
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8.9 (6 Jan) Ranked 9 for the week
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8.41 (3 Feb) Ranked 8 for the week
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8.5 (10 Feb) Ranked 12 for the week
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9.24 (17 Feb) Ranked 7 for the week
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8.4 (24 feb) Ranked 22 for the week
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Kasautii Zindagi Ke(8:30 – 9 pm)
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9.91 (7 Jan) Ranked 11 for the week
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8.37 (5 Feb) Ranked 9 for the week
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7.39 (13 Feb) Ranked 13 for the week
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8.37 (20 Feb) Ranked 12 for the week
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9.2 (27 Feb) Ranked 17 for the week
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The following table shows how cricket related programming started stealing the show! With the Indian team delivering when it mattered the most, the viewership on MAX soared to a new high. Ratings of the three world cup matches featuring India for six metros put together are: India vs Pakistan – 22.4, India vs England 15.9 and India vs Namibia – 11.1.
The post India-Pakistan match Extraaa Innings managed a TVR of 18.7 (ranked second in the C&S Top 50 list) whereas Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki (ranked 10th in C&S) managed 10.5 and Kyuunki Saas… (ranked 11th in C&S) got a rating of 10.2 the same day.
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Programme
|
Jan
|
Feb pre- World Cup
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Feb (first week)
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Feb (second week)
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23 Feb to 1 March
|
|
India vs Australia (1:28 – 4:40 pm) on 15 Feb  |
NA
|
NA
|
10.14 (15 Feb) Ranked 3 for the week
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
India vs Zimbabwe (5:15 – 8:36 pm) on 19 Feb |
NA
|
NA
|
NA
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10:03 19 Feb)Ranked 4 for the week
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NA
|
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India vs Pakistan (5:43 – 9:46 pm) on 1 Mar
|
NA
|
NA
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NA
|
NA
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21.8 (1 Mar) Ranked 1 for the week
|
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Extraaa Innings
|
NA
|
NA
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4.8 (15 Feb) Ranked 30 for the week
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3.95 (19 Feb) Ranked 37 for the week
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18.7 (1 Mar) Ranked 2 for the week)
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Not surprisingly, MAX surpassed all the channels (for week 9) to take the number one position with a channel share of 23.2 per cent among all individuals in C & S homes across India surveyed by TAM. In fact, 53.7 million individuals out of the potential 72.5 million individuals in C&S homes sampled MAX in these seven days.
Sony executive VP and MAX business head Rajat Jain said: “The ratings are simply unprecedented. All our effort of expanding the cricket viewership has finally started showing results. With females delivering an average of 10 TVRs for India matches and five TVRs for all matches put together on MAX.”
Optimum Media executive vice president Amit Ray had predicted this long back: “Advertisers are putting huge sums of money on cricket despite the fact that India (and some select non-India) matches that can probably get huge viewership are few and far between. The popular hypothesis, supported by research is that decision makers like/enjoy cricket and hence they believe that everyone loves cricket too. However, advertisers must remember that every match is not a India-Pakistan match,” he had said during an interview in January 2003.
Jain adds:”All markets have delivered a very high rating with India vs Pakistan match delivering an average rating of 30.3 in Kolkota and 24.5 in Mumbai. Also by now, as per our estimates, MAX would have reached 84 per cent of individuals in C&S homes across India.”
Looks like the soaps will have to wait for a couple of weeks more to get back their share of audience attention.
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.
