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Kumkum Bhagya boosts Zee TV viewership across genres
BENGALURU: That both the Bhagya soaps (Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya) from Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms’ stable have been pushing up viewership for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s (Zeel) flagship Hindi GEC, Zee TV, seems to be a given. Another comedy sitcom from Optimystix Entertainment, Kya Haal Mr. Panchaal, has been bringing in audiences for Star India’s free-to-air (FTA) Hindi GEC, more so from the overall Hindi-speaking markets (HSM) and a big chunk of the HSM rural markets.
Probably one of the longest-running sitcoms in the genre, Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah, has continued to bring in and maintain eyeballs for Sony Pictures Network India’s (SPN) women-focussed Hindi GEC Sony Pal. SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max has often been among the ten most-watched channels across genres, more so when it features the IPL. In week 46 of 2017, Sony Pal was aided by three films–Kanchana Returns, Salman Khan-starrer Sultan, and Son of Satyamurthy–to find a place among the top-10 channels across genres.
And the results show by the very presence of these channels in Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) weekly data for the top-10 channels across channels (All India (U+R) : 2+ individuals) for week 46 of 2017 (Saturday, 11 November 2017 to Friday, 17 November 2017).
One channel each from the Tamil GEC and Hindi Movies genres, two channels from the Telugu GEC genre and six channels from the Hindi GEC genre made it to the top 10 channels across genres list this particular week. Another way to put it – three channels from Zeel, two channels each from or associated with Star India, SPN and Network18 made it to the top 10.
Continuing the top position that it seems to have reserved for itself (except during IPL) was the Sun Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV with 1,088.566 million weekly impressions. As has also become the norm, all the top-five programmes from the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry urban and rural markets (NCCS All : Prime Time [1800 – 2330 hrs] : 2+ Individuals) were also from Sun TV.
At second place in the across genres list was Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV with 724.307 million impressions followed by Viacom18 flagship Hindi GEC Colors with 668.894 million weekly impressions at third place. Close on the heels of Colors was Zeel’s FTA Hindi GEC Zee Anmol with 665.740 million weekly impressions at fourth place aided to some extent by the soap Gangaa.
At fifth place was Star India’s Star Bharat with 664.785 million weekly impressions, followed by SPN’s Sony Pal with 633.434 million weekly impressions at sixth place. Star Plus was at seventh place with 558.510 million weekly impressions followed by the Network 18 associated Telugu GEC ETV Telugu with 522.225 million weekly impressions at eighth place.
SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max was at ninth place in week 46 of 2017 with 519.599 million weekly impressions followed by Zeel’s Telugu GEC Zee Telugu with 490.687 million weekly impressions at tenth place.
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.
