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Man v/s Wild with Bear Grylls and PM Modi brings 88% viewership growth for Discovery
MUMBAI: Man v/s Wild with Bear Grylls and PM Modi brings 88 per cent growth in the viewership of Discovery channel. The show was broadcasted across 12 channels of Discovery network.
The original airing of Man V/s Wild with Bear Grylls and PM Modi recorded 6.9 million impressions and ~400 million viewing minutes. 18.4 million unique viewers tuned in for the episode across the country.
The premiere day Monday August 12 and week 33 2019 have recorded the all-time high viewership for Discovery Channel.
The channel was at the 4th position across all channels/genres on Monday during the time-slot 9-10 hours. As per week 33 of BARC India ratings the channel garnered 65.2 million impressions in TG all India 2+ segment and 8.3 million impressions were recorded in Megacities NCSS AB 2+ segment.
The show is also streaming on Netflix across world. The show features the India Prime Minister walking through the wilderness of the Jim Corbett national Park in the foothills of the Himalayas along with Grylls, while extolling the need for tiger and environment conservation. The show witnesses PM Modi in a hitherto-unseen avatar, learning the tricks of survival in the wild from Grylls.
Apart from sharing space in a make-shift raft with Grylls, making a spear and partaking in a hot drink made from curry leaves, PM Modi also speaks about his time spent in the Himalayas and highlights the rich envirnmental heritage of India, which needs to be preserved. PM Modi is only the second world leader to feature in the iconic show, the first being former US President Barack Obama.
The show is produced for Discovery India by Bear Grylls Ventures & Electus a Propagate company, where Bear Grylls, Delbert Shoopman, Rob Buchta and Elizabeth Schulze are executive producers and Ben Simms is co-executive producer.
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.
