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Untapped TV audience of 100 mn for international channels
MUMBAI: The International Television Research Group (inTV) and GlobalWebIndex compared internet users aged 16-64 who watch any of the international TV channels such as BBC News, Bloomberg Television, CNBC, CNN, Euronews, Eurosport, France 24, National Geographic Channel, Sky News and TV5Monde channels at least twice a week and made a startling discovery.
According to the study these international channels which are broadcast beyond national borders, have been long recognised by high-end brands as a powerful way to reach affluent shoppers and business leaders. Yet opposite to received wisdom, the study found that the characteristics and attitudes of frequent viewers of international TV are not dependent on income, according to Rapid TV News.
In what could be vastly lucrative for the industry, research has identified an untapped, frequent TV audience of 112.5 million consumers viewing international TV channels who fall outside of the top income segment that advertisers usually target through ad campaigns.
inTV Group chairperson and Euronews head of research Sonia Marguin said, “This research has been eye-opening. While international TV channels will always remain a valuable source of affluent consumers for upscale brands, we can now see that there is also huge potential for other premium brands who are looking for highly active consumers, but who had seen international TV channels as the bastion for top-end luxury brands before.”
The advertising receptiveness was associated with viewing frequency, rather than consumer affluence was one of the key standouts. Frequent viewers were twice as likely as non-viewers to buy the products they see advertised, irrespective of income.
All frequent viewers were found to be considerably more likely to value premium brands than non-viewers, with 60 per cent of affluent frequent viewers and 45 per cent of those outside the top income segment tending to buy the premium version of a product, compared with 40 per cent for the wealthiest non-viewers.
Both the top 10 per cent income group for frequent viewers and those outside the most affluent group are significantly more likely to be brand conscious and are also much more likely to own the latest technology, such as smart TVs and smartwatches.
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.
