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Ten Sports reiterates leadership in the sports genre
MUMBAI: If there is one television genre that is seeing a lot of activity, it is the sports genre. Recently Zee Sports launched albeit without the cushion of India cricket. Now Ten Sports has put out data stating that it is head and shoulders above the competition on all fronts.
The channel has quoted Tam data from 30 April 2005 to 11 June 2005 c&s4+ all India. For each week in that period it had an average share of 1.46 per cent.
This is more than the combined share of ESPN Star Sports (ESS) and DD Sports. Star Sports has a share of 0.32. ESPN has a share of 0.24 and DD Sports has a share of 0.15. Clearly when India cricket is not there viewers switch off DD Sports.
What this data also indicates is that TNA Wrestling which airs on ESS has not managed to match the popularity of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). If it had then the gap would not have been so big. Of course one must keep in mind the fact that TNA Wrestling has only just started. Ten Sports also gained due to quality non India cricket like South Africa and Pakistan’s tour of West Indies.
However as Taj Television India MD Sharmista Rijhwani points out it is not only WWE that viewers watch. “If that was the case then the viewership share would not be so high. Our other shows like Sport Update, Legends are watched. Our viewership is strong at 67 per cent share among sports channels without live India cricket. With India cricket next month we expect it to cross 80 per cent.”
On the GRP front the story is similar. Ten Sports got an average of 50.5 GRPs each week compared with 10.9 for Star Sports, 8.2 for ESPN and 5.0 for DD Sports. On the distribution front Ten Sports had signed a deal with the One Alliance in March. The channel managed an average reach of 30 per cent which is slightly more than ESS’ reach of 26.8 per cent. DD Sports’ reach stands at 9.6 per cent.
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.
