News Headline
India TV’s channel share gains ‘shakti’ with sting ops
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The much maligned — or the much massaged, depending on how one views it — Casting Couch has claimed another victim: the competitors of India TV, which, itself, has been served with a government show-cause notice for airing indecent material.
However, the issue of the Casting Couch that had the nation frothing at the mouth for the last 15 days or so — it even compelled Time magazine to devote one full page to the matter in a recent edition — had the audiences glued to the TV sets most part of 13 Marc
According to the latest Tam data, India TV’s couch stung the competition and upped its own ratings. The numbers for Sunday, 13 March, in the C&S 15+ Hindi speaking market, released by Tam late Saturday, show India TV stacked right at the top of the heap with a never-before channel share of 22.4 per cent.
Next in the pecking order for Sunday were Aaj Tak (20.2 per cent), NDTV India (18 per cent), Star News (14 per cent) and Zee News (13.4 per cent) with Sahara and DD News at 6.2 and 5.9 per cent, respectively.
The Week 12 channel shares definitely represent a gain for India TV of around 200 per cent from 7.5 per cent on the Sunday of Week 11. A major part of the gain rides on the back of market leader Aaj Tak, which dropped to 20.2 on 13 March from 30.1 per cent on the Sunday in Week 11.
An elated Rajat Sharma, chairman of India TV, told Indiantelevision.com, “The ratings do indicate that our sting operations cornered viewership and that’s heartening.”
When pointed out that India TV was attempting cheap gimmicks to up its average ratings, Sharma shot back, “We have done other sting operations too relating to making of synthetic milk, pilferage of gas from cylinders for domestic use and manufacturing of ‘fake’ goods, but people don’t talk about it. Yes, the casting couch definitely created a buzz for India TV and this shows that there is place for good and different content in the news genre.”
It isn’t just a Sunday phenomena. A significant change is evident in the figures for the entire week too. Tam channel share figures for the C&S 15+ Hindi news market shows India TV, at 11.5 per cent in Week 12, witnessed a sharp rise from 6.7 per cent in Week 11. This gain in weekly average brings India TV close to Zee News (15.3 per cent) and Star News (17 per cent), and narrows the gap with Aaj Tak (22.9 per cent) and NDTV India (19.8 per cent).
What does competition have to say on the issue? A spokesperson for TV Today Network,managers of Aaj Tak, while admitting that India TV has gained on the back of sex-related sting operations, questioned the latter’s ability to sustain the performance as “continued good ratings are not event led.”
“In this business, everybody knows the name of the game is sustainability. How would India TV sustain these ratings, especially when the government has cautioned the channel not to air any such material in future?” the spokesperson quipped, adding that Aaj Tak’s hallmark is consistency that has been drawing viewers to it continuously over the years resulting in market leadership.
Attempts made to elicit responses from Zee News and Star News proved futile as the spokespersons concerned of the two news channels were not available for comments.
Sharma, when further pointed out that competition feels such ratings are one-off types, quipped, “I’d be very happy if other channels keep on thinking such ratings are aberrations and are event based. At India TV, it gives us that much more time to prepare ourselves for the onslaught.”
In the 1 million+ market, India TV’s channel share increased to 13 per cent, within hitting range of Zee News (16 per cent), Star News (18 per cent) and NDTV India (18 per cent). In this market, Aaj Tak leads with 22 per cent and Sahara Samay and DD are at six and seven per cent, respectively.
Sharma points out that similar programmes, highlighting the pathetic deeds of swamis in Swaminarayan temples or political leaders being fed with sexual favours by mafias and contractors have, evoked several thousand emails, SMSs and letters.
“It isn’t just stings. Look at the 36 per cent share we have one day before the Shakti Kapoor story,” he argues, showing channel shares on 12 March between 9 pm and 9:30 pm, when the Sharma-anchored Aap Ki Adalat with Swami Ramdev is ahead of Aaj Tak, Star News, NDTV and Zee News.
For trivia’s sake, here is some more data, culled from Tam:
India TV shares more than doubled in the Shakti Kapoor week across TGs.
India TV accounted 11-12 per cent of the news genre pie in March third week.
Shakti Kapoor episode more popular than Aman Verma baiting.
Audience time spent on the channel is constantly increasing, especially in the prime time.
On an average, 20 per cent more of the rival channel viewers watched India TV.
India’s Most Wanted on India TV gained more than Aap Ki Adalat.
For good or bad, Bollywood’s infamous Casting Couch, after the sting operations, drew detailed stories in The Times (UK), Time magazine, BBC and Voice of America, not to mention dozens of talk shows on other news channels like CNBC TV18, NDTV, Zee and Star News.
And, what does India TV plan to do next? Obviously serve the dessert for the viewers after the appetising meal, which comes in the form of a first-person interview with Ruchi this week. Ruchi, incidentally, is the reporter who posed as an aspiring actress and lured Kapoor and Verma to uncover the known-but-not-talked-about under-belly of the entertainment industry.
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.
