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News channels gain more eyeballs amid corona pandemic in week 10 of BARC
MUMBAI: The viewership pattern of news channels across genre has improved marginally during the tenth week of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) as compared to the previous week. The Hindi category news channels grew by around 15 per cent, whereas English advanced by 18 per cent.
All thanks to the novel coronavirus, the viewership this week (7-13 March) grew as the audience was glued to the news TV screens to get the timely update of the virus and the rising infected cases in India.
News channels, in week nine (29 February to 6 March), couldn’t maintain the shine from week eight when the virus had entered India earlier this month and the rising cases have made people consume more news as it is the only authentic source of information.
TV Today Network’s Aaj Tak (Hindi) and India Today (English) news channels have grown by over 24 per cent in terms of viewership in the current week as compared to the last.
In the straight tenth week, Aaj Tak has ranked at the first position in the top five Hindi news channels list with 1,53,379 weekly impressions in week ten as compared to 1,23,507 impressions in week nine. While maintaining its third position in the top five English news channels list, India Today has recorded 362 weekly impressions this week versus 291 in the earlier.
Regaining its second spot in terms of viewership, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Hindi news channel Zee News grew marginally by around 14 per cent to 1,14,390 weekly impressions in week ten as against 1,00,538 weekly impressions in week nine of BARC.
Network18’s Hindi news channel News18 India has improved its performance in terms of viewership and rank. The channel that jumped one position up to the third spot, grew by around 13 per cent to 1,12,125 weekly impressions this week as compared to 99,504 impressions in week nine.
Similarly, falling two positions down at fourth rank, India TV failed to maintain its shine but has marginally grown by over 6 per cent, in terms of viewership, to 1,09,363 impressions as compared to 1,02,710 weekly impressions in the previous week.
Being at the last position since the last three weeks of BARC, Republic Media Network’s Hindi News channel Republic Bharat has grown by over 14 per cent to 97,200 weekly impressions in the current week as against 85,184 impressions in the earlier week.
In the English category, the undefeated Republic TV has still maintained its number one position in the list of top five channels. The channel gained over 17 per cent to 692 impressions in week ten as compared to 589 impressions in week nine of BARC. Similarly, remaining firm at its second position Times News Network’s English news channel Times Now grew by over 20 per cent, in terms of viewership, to 501 impressions in the current week versus 416 impressions in the previous week.
The government-owned English news channel DD India and Network18’s English news channels CNN-News18 have retained their previous week’s fourth and fifth positions, respectively. The former marginally grew by around 12 per cent to 248 weekly impressions, whereas the latter advanced by over 13 per cent to 232 weekly impressions in the current week of BARC.
With the rising coronavirus cases and the situation being grimmer, the viewership pattern of news channels is likely to increase. The major growth in terms of viewership is expected to come from business news channels amid the stock market crash in the ongoing week due to the virus scare.
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.
