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Star Utsav leads Hindi channels across genres
BENGALURU: Star India’s free to air (FTA) Hindi GEC Star Utsav was ranked second in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genres for week 40 of 2018 (Saturday, 29 September 2018 to Friday, 5 October 2018, week under review). Star Utsav was preceded by the Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV which was at first rank. After quite a long while, there were no Hindi movies channels in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genres during the week under review. Also all the flagship Hindi GEC channels of the four major networks – Star India, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN), Viacom18 and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) were present in BARC’s across genres list for week 40 of 2018.
Eight Hindi GECs and one channel each from the Tamil and Telugu genres were present in BARC’s weekly across genres list in week 40 of 2018. From the network’s perspective, there were four channels from Star India – something that is becoming another norm, two channels each from SPN and Zeel and one channel each from the Sun TV Network and Viacom18.
As mentioned above, at its normal first rank in week 40 was the Tamil GEC Sun TV with 1,048.662million weekly impressions as compared to 1,020.107 million weekly impressions in week 39 of 2018. Sun TV also led BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry market and all of the 5 programmes in BARC’s list of top 5 Tamil programmes during primetime in these markets based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week under review were aired on Sun TV.
Climbing up one rank to second place in week 40 of 2018 was Star Utsav with 841.719 million weekly impressions as compared to 743.449 million weekly impressions in week 39. Star Utsav was ranked second in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), second in HSM (R) and was ranked seventh in HSM (U). The soap Rabba Ve aired on Star Utsav was ranked third in BARC’s weekly in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (R).
Dropping down a rank to third place in week 40 of 2018 was Zeel’s FTA Hindi GEC Zee Anmol with 833.614 million weekly impressions as compared to 777.386 million weekly impressions in week 39. Zee Anmol was also ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in the combined urban and rural Hindi speaking markets or HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked ninth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms produced soap Kumkum Bhagya aired on Zee Anmol was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and was ranked first in HSM (R). Another soap from the channel, Mahek, was ranked fourth in HSM (R).
Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa also jumped up a rank to fourth place in week 40 of 2018 with 809.562 million weekly impressions as compared with 666.396 million weekly impressions in week 39. Star Maa was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Five programmes that were aired on Star Maa were present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in the same market.
Another Star India Hindi GEC Star Bharat climbed up one place to fifth rank in week 40 of 2018 with 769.987 million weekly impressions as compared to 660.371 million weekly impressions in week 39. Star Bharat was also ranked fourth, fifth and sixth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively. The mythological drama Radhakrushna aired on Star Bharat was ranked third and fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and in HSM (R) respectively.
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus dropped down two places to sixth rank in week 40 of 2018. The channel scored 739.660 million impressions as compared to 710.478 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Star Plus was ranked fourth in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and was ranked first in HSM (U) and ninth in HSM (R). Director’s Kut Productions produced Hindi soap Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and 4 Lion Films soap Kulfi Kumar Bajewala aired on Star Plus were present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in HSM (U).
Zeel’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV climbed up three places in week 40 of 2018 to seventh rank with 728.065 million weekly impressions as compared to 645.325 million weekly impressions and tenth rank in week 39. Zee TV was ranked seventh in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and fourth in HSM (U) during the week. Two programmes that were aired on Zee TV- Kumkum Bhagya, and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were at fifth and third ranks respectively in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) while Kundali Bhagya was ranked second in HSM (U).
Retaining its previous weeks eighth rank in week 40 of 2018 was SPN’s women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal with 690.261 million weekly impressions as compared with 650.544 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Sony Pal was ranked sixth and eighth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) respectively and was ranked third in HSM (R). The sitcom Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah on Sony Pal was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (R).
Dropping down two ranks to ninth place in week 40 of 2018 was the Viacom18 flagship Hindi GEC Colors with 637.777 million weekly impressions as compared to 657.875 million or weekly impressions and seventh rank in week 39. Colors was ranked seventh in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs’ in HSM (U+R), third in HSM (U) and tenth in HSM (R). The third season of the Balaji Telefilms produced supernatural drama Naagin 3 aired on Colors was among BARC’s top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U).
SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) re-entered BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genres in week 40 of 2018 with 635.564 million impressions. SET was ranked eighth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and second in HSM (U). Big Synergy’s Indian edition of
British program Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? aka Kaun Banega Crorepati? hosted by Amitabh Bachchan was ranked second in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U).
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.
