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Only non-Hindi GECs Sun TV, Star Maa among top 10 channels across genres
BENGALURU: Week 47 of 2018 (Saturday, 17 November 2018 to Friday, 23 November 2018, week under review) had an all GEC roster in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genres. Further, Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV and Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa were the only non-Hindi GECs in the across genres list during the week under review. From the networks' perspective, as has become a norm, there were four Star India channels, two channels each from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) and one channel each from Sun TV Network and Viacom18. During the week under review the first five ranks order was the same as in the previous week.
At its normal first rank in week 47 of 2018 was Sun TV with 990.104 million weekly impressions as compared to 935.190 million weekly impressions in week 46 of 2018. Sun TV also led BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry market and four programmes in BARC’s list of top 5 Tamil programmes during primetime in these markets based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week under review were aired on Sun TV.
Also at its previous week’s second rank in week 47 of 2018 was Zeel’s free to air (FTA) Hindi GEC Zee Anmol with 842.236 million weekly impressions as compared to 775.164 million weekly impressions in week 46. Zee Anmol was also ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in the combined urban and rural Hindi speaking markets or HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked ninth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms-produced soap Kumkum Bhagya was ranked first in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Another programme aired on the channel – Mahek was ranked second in HSM (R).
Continuing at its previous week’s third rank was Star India’s pay-TV channel Star Bharat. The channel scored 765.704 million weekly impressions in week 47 of 2018 as compared to 722.909 million weekly impressions in week 46. Star Bharat was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), fourth in HSM (R) and was ranked fifth in HSM (U). The Hindi mythology Radhakrishn on the channel was ranked fourth and fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) respectively.
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus also retained its previous week’s rank – fourth, with 748.250 million impressions in week 47 of 2018 as compared to 696.102 million weekly impressions in week 46. Star Plus was ranked third in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and was ranked first in HSM (U) and ninth in HSM (R). The 4 Lion Films soap Kulfi Kumar Bajewala aired on Star Plus was present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in HSM (U) at fourth rank.
Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV also maintained its week 46 rank of fifth place in week 47. Zee TV garnered 728.191 million weekly impressions in week 47 of 2018 as compared to 694.459 million weekly impressions in week 46. Zee TV was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), seventh in HSM (R), and third in HSM (U) during the week under review. Two programmes that were aired on Zee TV- Kumkum Bhagya, and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were at fifth and third ranks respectively in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and third and second respectively in HSM (U).
Star India’s FTA Hindi GEC Star Utsav climbed up a rank to sixth place in week 47 of 2018 with 719.252 million weekly impressions as compared to 678.124 weekly impressions in week 46. Star Utsav was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), second in HSM (R) and was ranked seventh in HSM (U).
Star Maa dropped a rank to seventh place in week 47 of 2018 with 676.362 million weekly impressions as compared with 679.864 million weekly impressions in week 46. Star Maa was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Five programmes that were aired on Star Maa were present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in the same market.
Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors climbed up two ranks to eighth place in week 47 of 2018 with 676.362 million weekly impressions as compared to 642.486 million weekly impressions in week 46. Colors was ranked seventh, tenth and fourth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs’ in HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively. The Balaji Telefilms produced third season of the supernatural drama Naagin 3 was ranked second and first in BARC’s lists of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) respectively.
SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television or SET re-entered the across genres list in week 47 of 2018 with 627.218 mill weekly impressions at ninth rank. SET was ranked eighth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and was ranked second in HSM (U).
Dropping two places to tenth rank in week 47 of 2018 was SPN’s women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal with 617.770 million weekly impressions as compared to 664.269 million weekly impressions. Sony Pal was ranked sixth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs’ in HSM (U+R), third in HSM (R) and was ranked eighth in HSM (U). The sitcom Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah on Sony Pal was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (R).
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.
