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Sports channels viewership declines by 20.5 per cent in week 5 of BARC
MUMBAI: The poor performance of the Men in Blue and the end of the Australian Open 2020 impacted the viewership pattern of sports channels. According to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) week five shows a slump of 20.5 per cent in viewership pattern as compared to week four.
Dominating the viewership chart, Star India’s sports channels Star Sports 1 Hindi bagged the number one position out of the top five channels in the sports section. However, the viewership of the channel dropped by 18.5 per cent to 308715 weekly impressions as compared to week 4 of BARC.
Following Star Sports 1 Hindi, DD Sports has retained its second position on the list. However, the viewership of the government-owned channel has also dropped by 28.6 per cent to 73671 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 103110 weekly impressions in week 4.
One of the reasons the viewership of Star Sports 1 Hindi and DD Sports fell marginally because of the Virat and co’s sluggish performance in all the three one day international matches against New Zealand. The fifth T20 and first ODI match between two teams were played in week 5 (1-7 February) of BARC. The victory in the fifth T20 match didn’t impact much because India had already won the series.
Star Sports First, which was ranked third in the list last week, maintained its position but fell by 14.3 per cent to 67311 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 78546 impressions in week 4.
Star Sports 3 has thrown out Sony Pictures Sports Network’s channel Sony Ten 1 from the fourth position. However, the weekly impression of Sony Ten 1 has dropped by nearly 1 per cent to 48033 weekly impressions in week 5 as compared to 48439 impressions in week 4.
Sony Ten 1, featured on the last position of the list, declined by 42.4 per cent to 36202 weekly impressions in week 5 as against 62824 in week 4. One of the reasons the viewership declined was that the first grand slam of the year – Australian Open – broadcast on the channel, concluded earlier in the week.
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.
