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Spot buy rates on DD News hiked 66%
NEW DELHI: Buoyed by the success of the DD News in terms of viewership ratings, Prasar Bharati has introduced a revised rate card for the channel, with approximately a 20 per cent hike for packages and a whopping 66 per cent increase in spot buy rates.
The new rate card,which has been operational from 1 April 2004, has been well accepted in the market. New advertisers like State Bank of India and Kodak have already signed up Rs
7.5 million and Rs 2.5 million, respectively for three months.
In the new rate card spot buy rates have been hiked to Rs 5,000 per 10 seconds (Rs 3,000 earlier) for prime time and Rs 3,000 per 10 seconds (Rs 2,000 earlier). The prime time band has been extended by one hour – from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm (7 pm to 11 pm earlier) to help better spread advertisements.
There has been a 50 per cent increase in the rates for sponsored programmes – from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 for prime time and from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500 for non prime time.
However, it is for the stock branding and ticker branding, for which there is a huge demand, that the increase is the highest. The new rate is Rs 500,000 per month as against Rs 200,000 earlier. The earlier offer of giving value addition to advertisers in the form of free commercial time on DD Bharati continues.
“DD News was facing the problem of plenty. The most important thing to be addressed was to devise a strategy to reduce clutter of advertisements, especially in prime time programmes” says Sanjiv Datta, Addl Director General (News). “Many advertisers prefer packages only during specific events, otherwise they go for prime time spot buys. So we can shore up our revenues through this,” he adds.
The DD News rate card circulated in November last was introductory in nature and meant basically to test the waters. However, the market gave a resounding thumbs-up to the new channel of DD, and against a revenue target of Rs 20 million, DD News was able to attract advertisements worth Rs 90-100 million. DD News took in Rs 20 million around the election coverage programming alone. On the qualitative front too, DD News was successful in wooing top consumer brands – cola majors, 2-wheeler manufacturers, telecom service providers, including several multi-national brands, into its fold.
Three Headlines Today anchors join DD News
Meanwhile, DD News has hit back in a limited way at Aaj Tak by weaning away three anchors, including two ladies, from the Hindi news channel’s English sibling Headlines Today. According to sources in DD News, all these three anchors, who joined within the last week or so, are bilingual and would be used extensively for English and Hindi programming on DD News.
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.
