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Two Zeel channels top Hindi GECs in across genres list
BENGALURU: Two Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) channels were ranked second and third in Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 25 of 2018 (Saturday, 16 June 2018 to Friday, 22 June 2018, week under review). Zeel’s free to air (FTA) Hindi GEC Zee Anmol was ranked second and the network’s flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV was ranked second in across genres list for week 25 of 2018. The first rank in the list was held by the regular occupier of the slot – the Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV.
Five Hindi GECs, two channels each from the Hindi movies and Telugu genres and one channel from the Tamil genre made it to BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genres during the week under review. From the networks’ perspective, there were three channels each from the Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and Zeel stables, two channels from Star India and one channel each from the Sun TV Network and Viacom18.
Sun TV held onto its last week’s rank of number one with 946.455 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to 929.515 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Further, Sun TV also was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top five Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry markets and all the programmes in BARC’s weekly list of top five Tamil programmes in these markets during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week were aired on Sun TV.
At second place was Zee Anmol with 747.590 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2018 as compared to 774.331 million weekly impressions in the previous week. 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) as also in HSM (R). The Balaji Telefilms-produced soap Kumkum Bhagya aired on Zee Anmol was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top five 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).
Climbing up two places to third rank was Zee TV with 606.439 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to fifth rank and 587.742 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Zee TV was ranked third in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), second in HSM (U) and sixth in HSM (R). Two programmes that were aired on Zee TV- Kundali Bhagya, a spinoff of Kumkum Bhagya was ranked second and Kumkum Bhagya was ranked third in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U). Kundali Bhagya was also ranked fourth in HSM (R) in BARC’s list of top five Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week.
At fourth rank was SPN’s women-focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal with 601.848 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to third rank and 619.539 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Sony Pal was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked seventh in HSM (U). The sitcom Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah aired on Sony Pal was ranked third in BARC’s list of top five Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (R).
At fifth rank was SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max with 597.083 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to 592.364 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Sony Max was also ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top five Hindi movies channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) and was ranked fifth in HSM (R). The Hindi feature film (HFF) Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety that was aired on the channel was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top five Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R), while it was ranked second in HSM (U). Furthermore, the Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots was ranked the fifth most watched Hindi movies programme during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (R).
Buoyed by the viewership of the third season of the Balaji Telefilms-produced Naagin and the dance show Dance Deewane was Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors at sixth rank with 580.417 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to seventh rank and 553.387 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Colors was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and was ranked first in HSM (U). Naagin 3 and Dance Deewane found places in BARC’s weekly list of top five Hindi GECs during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U), while Naagin 3 was ranked fifth in HSM (R).
At seventh place was Star India’s FTA Hindi GEC Star Bharat with 574.692 million weekly impressions in week 25 as compared to rank nine and 550.387 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Star Bharat was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) and was ranked fifth in HSM (R).
Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa was ranked eighth with 520.024 million weekly impressions as compared to sixth rank and 575.135 million weekly impressions in week 24 of 2018. Star Maa was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top five Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Three programmes that were aired on Star Maa were present in BARC’s weekly list of top five Telugu programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week.
Zeel’s flagship Telugu GEC Zee Telugu re-entered BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genre at ninth rank with 519.127 million weekly impressions in week 25 of 2018. Zee Telugu was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top five Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Two programmes that were aired on Zee Telugu were present in BARC’s weekly list of top five Telugu programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week.
Another SPN Hindi movies channel Sony Wah completed BARC’s weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 25 of 2018 at tenth rank with 512.431 million weekly impressions as compared to eighth rank and 551.261 million weekly impressions in week 24. Sony Wah was ranked second and fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top five Hindi movies channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). HFF Sultan was ranked first in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R). Two more films that were aired on the channel – Yevadu 2 and Dangerous Khiladi 4 were ranked second and fifth respectively in HSM (R).
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.
