News Headline
IPL 8: Vodafone, Amazon dominate advertising blitz
MUMBAI: The ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw telecom operator Vodafone Cellular as the top advertised brand on the basis of secondages during the live coverage.
As per Television Audience Measurement’s (TAM) analysis, Vodafone was closely followed by e-commerce giant Amazon.in, which is IPL’s presenting sponsor this season.
Invading new territories PayTm.com was placed in the third position, while the Aamir Khan endorsed brand Snapdeal.com bagged the fourth berth.
The fifth spot was occupied by the ad for Vimal Pan Masala featuring Ajay Devgn, signifying the brand’s 25 years celebration.
Websites like Cardekho.com, Freecharge.in and Cartrade.com also featured in the list of top ten brands.
On the other hand, the on screen presence was dominated by ACC Cement, which was closely followed by PayTM.com. Brands like Yes Bank, Intex Aqua Speed, Amazon.in and Vodafone Cellular Phone Service followed in chronological order.
TAM’s analysis reflecting on ground presence of brands – Instadia, successfully managed to penetrate through the lenses and grab a slot in the television screen during the match. The category saw title sponsor Pepsi (the cola giant) in the pole position, followed by Pepsi IPL (the cricket tournament). Star India’s VOD platform Hotstar, which is also the official online streaming partner of IPL, is placed in the third spot. Yes Bank and Vodafone Cellular Phone Services followed at the fourth and fifth spot respectively. It must be noted that Hotstar is the sponsor of ‘Hotstar of the Match’ award, whereas Vodfone has ‘Fan of the Day’ and Yes Bank sponsors the ‘Maximum Sixer Award.
Snapdeal brand ambassador Aamir Khan led the celebrity chart on the basis of ad volumes, followed by Ajay Devgn and Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni.
The list of new advertisers that were endorsing in the multi-million dollar tourney for the first time was led by PayTm.com. Intex Technologies and Vimal Pan Masala and Cardekho.com followed in descending order.
IPL 8 viewership up 23 per cent cumulative reach up 2 per cent
The eight edition of the IPL also received a boost in viewership. As compared to IPL 7, 23 per cent more fans tuned in to various channels of Multi Screen Media (MSM) to enjoy IPL action. After 45 matches, the current season registered 9,823 TVTs (000’s) whereas in 2014 the championship manage to garner 7,985 TVT’s (000’s) after same number of matches.
The cumulative reach also went up compared to the previous edition. After 45 matches IPL 8 garnered 182 million viewers as compared to 179 million in 2014 edition, which signifies a growth of two per cent.
The average time spent witnessed a growth of nine per cent as the current registered 45.04 minutes per match compared to 41.22 minutes of 2014 edition.
IPL 8’s viewership so far has been dominated by males aged between 15 to 24 and 35 above.
Source: TAM Peoplemeter System; TG: CS 4+ Yrs, Market: All India; Period: 8 April – 9 May, 2015; IPL 7: 45 matches played between 16 April – 19 May, 2014
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








