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Sports channels ratings dive in week 26
BENGALURU: After the culmination of the recent ICC Cricket Champions Trophy 2017 in the UK, the ratings of the sports genre has taken a huge hit, going by Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data for Top 5 Sports channels and Top 5 Sports programmes (All India (U+R) : NCCS All : 2+ Individuals).
Until mid-year (week 26 of 2017: Saturday, 24 June 2017 to Friday, 30 June 2017), the top combined weekly impressions (CWI) of the top 5 sports channels peaked in week 23 (Saturday, 3 June 2017 to Friday, 9 June 2017) during which the sum of the weekly impressions of all the five channels was 1,450.328 million impressions. Weeks 24 and 25 saw a progressive decline in the CWI and week 26 has seen the combined ratings of the Sports genre plummet to a little more than a fourth (fall by 3.71 times) of week 23 ratings. Weeks 24 and 25 of 2017 saw the top 5 channels of the sports genre with 1,294.254 million impressions and 813.826 million impressions respectively.
Going by BARC data, international limited overs matches- one day matches as well as T20 matched have been the highest number of Indian audienceeyeballs. Please refer to the figure below for combined weekly impressions of Top 5 channels of the Sports genre during the first 26 weeks of 2017.
Week 1 of 2017 saw the lowest CWI during the year until week 26 of 2017 with the top 5 sports channels registering a figure of just 171.251 million. Week 3 of 2017 during which the first and the second ODIs’ were played between India and England in India witnessed the genre garnering the highest CWI for the top 5 channels until week 23 at 811.22 million impressions. CWI of 750.335 was registered in week 5 when T20 matches were played between India and England in India. The CWI of the top 5 Sports channels then petered down until week 10 when the top 5 channels registered a total of 555.647 million impressions. This was during the India Australia second Test Match held in India. Among the private broadcasters in India, it was Star India’s Sports channels that telecast the India England, the India Australia matches and the Champions Trophy 2017.
Week 14 of 2017 saw the kick-off of the tenth season of the T20 cricket Indian Premier League (IPL 10 or IPL 2017). The IPL ran until week 21 of 2017. Week 15 of 2017 saw the top 5 channels of the Sports genre registering a total of 691.605 million impressions – the highest combined ratings for the Sports genre during IPL weeks. IPL was aired on Sony Pictures Network (SPN) channels.
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.
