News Headline
Nielsen straps on wearables to catch TV’s biggest blind spot: your mate on the sofa
NEW YORK: Nielsen has finally realised what every television addict already knows: watching the big game alone is about as fun as a soggy biscuit. The audience-measurement behemoth announced today it’s launching a pilot programme to crack television’s most stubborn riddle—how many people are actually squashed onto the sofa watching together.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Nielsen’s new co-viewing methodology, powered by wrist-worn gizmos that look suspiciously like smartwatches, will debut with Super Bowl LX on NBC this Sunday, 8 February. Think of them as Fitbits for couch potatoes, except instead of counting steps, they’re counting bums on seats.
“Our clients produce live TV events that get the world watching. It’s our job to make sure we are accurately counting the audiences they meticulously build,” said Nielsen chief executive Karthik Rao. Translation: broadcasters charge advertisers a king’s ransom for Super Bowl spots, and everyone wants proof the viewers actually showed up.
The wearables passively vacuum audio from whatever’s blaring on the box—no tedious logging in required. Nielsen’s panelists simply wear the devices, and the technology does the heavy lifting. It’s measurement for the Netflix-and-chill generation: effortless, unobtrusive, and mercifully free of clipboards.
The pilot will roll out across high-profile live events, sports fixtures and entertainment programming through the first half of 2026. Results won’t immediately count as “currency”—the industry term for the ratings advertisers actually pay for—but clients will get their hands on the data a few weeks after Nielsen’s standard Big Data + Panel numbers drop. The full enchilada, including currency-grade co-viewing figures, should arrive in time for the 2026-27 season.
Nielsen has been banging the innovation drum lately. Big Data + Panel measurement, live streaming metrics, out-of-home tracking—it’s all part of the company’s bid to remain the “source of truth” in a fracturing media landscape. The Gauge and Nielsen Streaming Top 10 reports have become industry gospel. Now the firm wants to prove it can count heads as well as it counts clicks.
The timing isn’t accidental. Live events remain television’s last great draw, the programmes that still convince people to watch at the same time in the same room. Getting that number right matters—especially when advertisers are writing cheques with more zeroes than a binary textbook.
So this Sunday, when viewers wedged between their mates, nursing a beer and shouting at the screen, remember: Nielsen is watching. And for once, they’re finally counting everyone in the room.
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.
