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Sun TV, Star Maa only non-Hindi GEC channels in across genre list
BENGALURU: For the second consecutive week in a row, the Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC and Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa were the only non-Hindi GEC channels in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genre. The other eight channels in BARC’s weekly across genres list in week 41 0f 2018 (Saturday, 6 October 2018 to Friday, 12 October 2018) were all Hindi GECs. Besides the two South Indian languages channels, BARC’s weekly list normally had at least one channel from the Hindi movies genre in the past. During important sports events such as the Indian Premier League or IPL, at least one Hindi channel that aired sports was also present in BARC’s across genres lists.
The same channels that were present in BARC’s across genres weekly list in week 40 were present in the week 41 of 2018 list, but with a change in order of ranking. Like last week, from the network’s perspective, there were four channels from Star India, 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 41 was the Tamil GEC Sun TV with 1,003.083 million weekly impressions as compared to 1,048.662 million weekly impressions in week 40 of 2018. Sun TV also led BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry market and the first four 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.
Retaining its previous week’s second place in week 41 of 2018 was Star Utsav with 883.504 million weekly impressions as compared to 841.719 million weekly impressions in week 40. Star Utsav was ranked first 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 soaps Rabba Ve and Veera aired on Star Utsav were ranked third and fourth 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).
Also retaining its previous week’s third rank in week 41 of 2018 was Zeel’s FTA Hindi GEC Zee Anmol with 806.664 million weekly impressions as compared to 833.614 million weekly impressions in week 40. Zee Anmol was also ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in the combined urban and rural Hindi speaking markets lists or HSM (U+R), first in rural HSM or HSM (R) and was ranked ninth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms-produced soap Kumkum Bhagya aired on Zee Anmol 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+R) and was ranked first in HSM (R). Another soap from the channel, Mahek, was ranked second in HSM (R).
Star India’s Hindi GEC Star Bharat climbed up one place to fourth rank in week 41 of 2018 with 756.584 million weekly impressions as compared to 769.987 million weekly impressions in week 40. Star Bharat was also ranked third, fourth and fifth 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 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).
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus also climbed up one rank to fifth place in week 41 of 2018 with 746.196 million impressions as compared to 739.660 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 eighth 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 ranked third and fourth respectively 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 also climbed up one rank to sixth place in week 41 of 2018 with 722.309 million weekly impressions as compared to 728.065 million weekly impressions in week 40. Zee TV was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), seventh in HSM (R) and third in HSM (U) during the week. Kumkum Bhagya’s spinoff Kundali Bhagya was at third rank 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).
Star Maa fell three places to seventh rank in week 41 of 2018 with 702.617 million weekly impressions as compared with 809.562 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.
SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) also climbed up – two ranks to eighth place in week 41 of 2018 with 623.976 million impressions as compared to 635.564 million impressions in week 40. SET was ranked seventh 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 fifth 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).
SPN’s women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal dropped one place to ninth rank with 606.739 million weekly impressions as compared with 690.261 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 fifth 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).
Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors also dropped down a rank to tenth place in week 41 of 2018 with 602.469 million weekly impressions as compared to 637.777 million weekly impressions and seventh rank in week 40. Colors was ranked eighth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), fourth 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).
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.
