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Star Bharat continues leading Hindi GECs across genres
BENGALURU: Star India’s free-to-air (FTA) Hindi GEC Star Bharat continued its leadership in the genre in Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC) list of top-10 channels across genres in week 51 of 2017 (Saturday, 16 December 2017 to Friday, 22 December 2017) for the third week in a row. The channel was ranked second in the across genres list, behind the Sun Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV. Sun TV was the most watched GEC in India. In BARC’s top-10 Hindi GEC channels list, however, Star Bharat dropped a rank in week 51 from the previous week’s pole position. Comedy sitcom Kya Haal Mr Panchal rose to first rank in week 51 as the most-watched Hindi GEC programme during primetime in the Hindi-speaking urban and rural market – HSM (U+R) during primetime from week 50’s third rank.
BARC’s list of top-10 channels across genres in week 51 featured the same channels as in week 50 but with different rankings. Seven Hindi GECs and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Tamil GEC and Telugu GEC genres made it to the across genres list in week 51 of 2017. From the networks’ perspective, three channels from Star India, two channels each from the Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Sun Network and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) respectively and one channel from Network 18 (Viacom 18) comprised the top-10 channels across genres. Of these channels, six were pay TV channels and four were FTA.
Sun TV maintained its unassailable first rank in week 51 of 2017 with 1,044.767 million weekly impressions, a shade higher than the previous week’s 1,024.516 million weekly impressions. As has been the norm in 2017, all the top-five Tamil programmes in the Tamil Nadu/Puducherry markets during primetime were from Sun TV. Star Bharat was ranked second with 697.634 million weekly impressions again tad higher than the 690.538 million weekly impressions in week 50.
Zeel’s FTA Hindi GEC Zee Anmol climbed up a rank to third place in week 51 of 2017 with 695.320 million weekly impressions as compared to 646.612 million weekly impressions. The Balaji Telefilms-produced Kumkum Bhagya aired on the channel featured among the top-five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM –(R) during primetime.
Network 18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors climbed down one rank to fourth place in week 51 of 2017 with 622.522 million weekly impressions as compared to 648.788 million weekly impressions in the previous week. The channel’s Indian Hindi series produced by Rashmi Sharma Telefilms Limited – Shakti-Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki was among the top-five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM-(U) during primetime.
Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV retained its fifth rank in week 21 of 2017 with slightly higher ratings in week 51 of 622.034 million weekly impressions as compared to 612.024 million weekly impressions of week 50. As has also become a norm, Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were among the top five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM-(U+R) and HSM-(U) during primetime.
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus climbed up one rank to sixth place with 577.847 million weekly impressions as compared to 525.123 million weekly impressions in week 50. The channel’s Balaji Telefilms-produced Ye Hai Mohabbatein featured among the top-five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM-(U+R) and HSM-(U) during primetime.
Star Plus was followed by Star India’s Hindi FTA channel Star Utsav which jumped up three ranks to seventh place in week 51 of 2017 with 573.464 million weekly impressions as compared to 526.123 million weekly impressions of week 50. The Sphere Origins-produced sequel soap opera Is Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon-Ek Bar Phir was among the top-five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM-(R) during primetime.
SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max descended two ranks to eighth place in week 51 of 2017 with 555.122 million weekly impressions as compared to 599.399 million weekly impressions. Hindi Feature Films’ (HFF) Bahubali the Beginning and DJ in HSM (U+R) and HSM-(U) and HFF Kanchana in HSM-(U) were among the top five programmes in week 51 of 2017. These films were aired on Sony Max during the week under review.
SPN’s women-focused FTA channel Sony Pal retained its ninth rank in week 51 of 2017 with slightly lower ratings of 546.834 million weekly impressions as compared to 552.968 million weekly impressions in the previous week. The children’s Indian television series of a boy with supernatural powers Baal Veer, produced by Optimystix Entertainment, which aired on Sony Pal, was among the top five Hindi GEC programmes in HSM-(R) during primetime in week 51.
The Sun Network’s flagship Telugu GEC Gemini TV completed the top-10 channels across genres list in week 51 of 2017 with 520.374 million weekly impressions at tenth rank as compared to eighth rank in week 50. The channel had garnered 562.485 million weekly impressions in the previous week.
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BARC week 51: Zee Anmol leads Hindi (R+U) & rural market
Four Star India channels among top 10 channels across genres
Panchal helps Star Bharat top Hindi GECs across genres
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.
