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Star Bharat viewership skews to rural India: BARC and Chrome data analyses
BENGALURU: Star India’s free-to-air (FTA) Hindi GEC Star Bharat was launched on 28 August 2017. Star Bharat is the new avatar of Star India’s Life OK that went off air. The channel has been rocking ratings tables since the very first week of launch under its new moniker.
The second rebranding and identity change of the youth oriented Star One, which was the earlier name for Life OK /Star Bharat seems to have worked. Star Bharat programs are mainly focused on the day to day entertainment. In the very first week (week 35 of 2017 – Saturday 26 August 2017 to Friday, 1 September 2017) of its launch, the channel moved up to fifth place in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 10 Hindi GEC channels in the Hindi Speaking Market (Urban+ Rural) NCCS All 2+ Individuals with 519.743 million weekly impressions from tenth and ninth places obtained by Life OK in weeks 34 and 33 of 2017 with 328.527 million weekly impressions and 336.765 million weekly impressions respectively.
In week 36 of 2017, Star Bharat was ranked second in the Hindi GEC HSM (U+R) market with 669.588 million weekly impressions and in week 37 of 2017 (Saturday, 9 September 2017 to Friday, 15 September 2017) it was ranked third with 607.820 million weekly impressions.
As per BARC data, Life OK’s had viewership that was skewed towards urban audiences. Star Bharat has higher rural viewership as compared to urban. Please refer to the figure below:
A Chrome Data and Analytics (Chrome) survey study reveals interesting data about Star Bharat viewership’s swinging from urban to rural India.
The sample size used by Chrome for its study was 12,097 HSM urban and 7,414 HSM rural respondents. The ratio between males and females was 69:31 approximately for both markets. Demographics for both urban and rural HSM markets were 21 percent 15 to 21 years; 44 percent 22 to 30 years; 23 percent 31 to 40 years; 10 percent 41 to 50 years and 2 percent 51 to 60 years.
96.8 percent of rural respondents and 97.2 percent urban respondents were aware of the launch of Star Bharat while the rest were not aware of the launch. 62 percent of rural and 74 percent of the respondents were aware that Life OK had gone off-air. 72 percent of rural and 79 percent of urban respondents were aware that Life OK had been replaced by Star Bharat.
More rural respondents had watched Star Bharat than urban respondents according to the Chrome survey study. 56 percent rural and 41 percent of the urban respondents had watched Star Bharat. 22 percent rural and 20 percent of the urban respondents watched the channel daily; 10 percent rural and 7 percent urban respondents watched it two to three times a week; 3 percent rural and 10 percent urban respondents watched Star Bharat once a week, 21 percent rural and 4 percent urban respondents had no fixed routines in watching the channel; while 44 percent rural and 59 percent urban respondents had not watched the channel at all.
Among the popular programmes on Star Bharat, 41 percent rural and 26 percent urban respondents said that they have watched Savdhaan India. The reasons for watching the Savdhaan India were: 27 percent rural and 24 percent urban respondents liked Crime shows; 18 percent rural and 9 percent urban respondents watched it for knowledge; 24 percent rural and 29 percent urban respondents felt Savdhaan India had an interesting story; 15 rural and 18 percent urban respondents felt that the programme showed reality and 15 percent rural and 21 percent urban respondents liked the format of the show.
Nimki Mukhiya is a serial that started airing on the channel on 28 August 2017. In rural India, 38 percent respondents said that they have watched Nimki Mukhiya as compared to 21 percent in urban India. 95 percent rural and 38 percent urban respondents watched the show because of the story, while 5 percent of rural and 62 percent of urban respondents watched the show because of the character.
Saam Daam Dand Bhed is a political drama show on the channel. According to the Chrome survey study, 36 percent rural and 22 percent urban and respondents watched the program. Both rural and urban India watched the show because of the story. 57 percent rural and 52 percent urban respondents said that they watched the show because of the story while 43 percent rural and 48 percent urban respondents said that they watched it because of the character.Kya Haal Mr. Panchaal is a family comedy show on Star Bharat. 33 percent of rural India watched the show as compared to 14 percent in urban India. Both rural and urban India have watched this show because of its comedy content with support from 62 percent of rural and 51 percent or the urban respondents.
Indian Hindi musical television series Om Shanti Om with Baba Ramdev of the Patanjali fame as the overhead judge started airing on Star Bharat on its launch day. 29 percent of rural and 20 percent of urban respondents have watched this show. 26 percent rural and 29 percent urban respondents said that they watched the show for entertainment; 23 percent rural and 34 percent urban respondents said that they watched the show for music; while 51 percent rural and 37 percent urban respondents said that they watched Om Shanti Om because it was a reality show.
The drama revenge thriller featuring an eight year old boy Ayushman Bhav airs on the channel. Only 28 percent respondents in rural India and 20 percent respondents in urban India have watched the show. 52 percent rural and 43 percent urban respondents said that they watched the show because of its story, while the remaining in each market said that they watched it because of the character.
It is early weeks as yet. Only time will tell how Star Bharat will fare.
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.
