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TV advertising shows record growth in Jan-Mar 2021: BARC
NEW DELHI: The overall growth in television ad volumes during the first two months of the year has further consolidated in March, said Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) on Friday.
According to the television monitoring agency, 456 million seconds of ad volumes was recorded during the January to March period, the highest since 2018.
The latest data offers a glimmer of hope to the television industry which has been struggling to get back on its feet amid the second wave of Covid2019.
The growth in ad volume was observed across all genres. While the news genre recorded a growth of 25 per cent, the surge in the GEC space was 21 per cent. The movies genre saw an uptick of 23 per cent.
According to BARC, growth of ad Volumes on TV observed in Jan-Mar 2021 was broad-based, with advertisers across the spectrum accounting for the higher levels. The top 10 advertisers, as well as the next 40, registered healthy growth at 37 per cent and 31 per cent respectively.
E-commerce sector continued to show a healthy growth of 13 per cent in January to March 2021 compared with the same period in 2020.
The digital-native brands under education (3X growth), pharma/health care (7X growth) and BFSI (55 per cent growth) categories also continued to propel growth of the ECOM sector in Jan to March 2021 compared to 2020. The top 20 advertisers drove more than 50 per cent of ad Volumes during this period, showed the data.
Festivals and special events like Sankranti and Republic Day in January garnered the highest ever ad volumes in 2021 since 2018, reported BARC.
With a promising start to the year, the expectations for higher ad spends have definitely gone up for the coming months.
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.
