News Headline
Zee TV most watched Hindi channel across genres in BARC week 5
BENGALURU: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV was the most watched Hindi channel according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data for week 5 of 2019 (Saturday, 26 January 2019 to Friday, 1 February 2019, week or period under review) of top 10 channels across genres (across genres list). At second rank in the list, Zee TV pushed down its younger free to air Hindi GEC sibling Zee Anmol to third place. At its regular rank one in the list was the Sun TV Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV.
Six Hindi GECs, two Hindi movies channels and one channel each from the Tamil and Telugu GECs made up BARC's weekly across genres list for the week under review. From the networks’ perspective, there were four Star India channels, two channels each from Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and Zeel and one channel each from the Sun TV Network and Viacom18.
As mentioned above, at its normal first rank in week 5 of 2019 was Sun TV with 991.664 million weekly impressions as compared to 868.845 weekly impressions in week 4 of 2019. Sun TV also led BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry market and four of the five 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.
At second rank in week 5 of 2019 was Zee TV with 782.629 million weekly impressions during the period under review as compared to 709.037 million weekly impressions in week 4. Zee TV was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in the combined urban and rural Hindi speaking markets or HSM (U+R), first in HSM (U), and was ranked seventh in HSM (R). Full House Media’s Hindi drama Tujhse Hai Raabta on Zee TV was ranked third and fourth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) respectively based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat). Besides the Balaji Telefilms produced spinoff Kundali Bhagya aired on Zee TV was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes in HSM (U).
Dropping a rank to third place was Zee Anmol with 761.086 million weekly impressions in week 5 of 2019 as compared to 754.080 million weekly impressions in week 4 of 2019. Zee Anmol was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked ninth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms produced soaps Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were ranked second and first respectively 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). Another two programmes aired on the channel – Mahek and Ek Main aur Ek Tu were ranked third and fifth respectively in HSM (R).
Climbing up three places to fourth rank in week 5 of 2019 was Star India FTA Hindi GEC Star Utsav. The channel scored 713.295 million weekly impressions as compared to 646.107 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Star Utsav was ranked third, second and seventh in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively.
Dropping down two places to fifth rank in week 5 of 2019 was Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa with 693.560 weekly impressions as compared with 712.438 million weekly impressions and second rank in week 4. Star Maa was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Five of the five top Telugu programmes 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 under review in the same market were from Star Maa.
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus also dropped a place to sixth rank in week 5 of 2019 with 633.136 million weekly impressions as compared to 694.385 million weekly impression in week 4. Star Plus was ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), was ranked second in HSM (U) and eighth in HSM (R).
Viacom18’s Hindi movies channel Rishtey Cineplex re-entered the across genres list at seventh rank in week 5 of 2019 with 625.332 million weekly impressions. Rishtey Cineplex was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi movies channels in HSM (U+R) and HSM (R) and was ranked fourth in HSM (U). Three programmes on Rishtey Cineplex Hindi Feature Films or HFF Power Unlimited 2, Don No 1 and Main Hoon Surya Singham 2 were among BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 Hindi Movies programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week. HFF Power Unlimited 2 was ranked fifth in HSM (U), while five programmes – all five HFFs were in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi movies programmes in HSM (R).
Another Star India Hindi pay TV Hindi GEC Star Bharat dropped two places in week 5 of 2018 to eighth place with 622.750 million weekly impressions in week 4 as compared to 666.682 million weekly impressions in week 3 of 2019. Star Bharat was ranked fourth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and sixth and fifth in HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively.
SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) retained its previous week’s ninth rank in week 5 of 2019 with 601.258 million weekly impressions as compared to 610.917 million weekly impress ions in week 3 of 2019. SET was ranked sixth in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and second in HSM (U). The comedy show – The Kapil Sharma Show was ranked third in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi programmes during primetime in HSM (U).
Also re-entering BARC’s across genres list in week 5 of 2019 was SPN’s Hindi movies channel Sony Max with 580.196 million weekly impressions. Sony Max was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies channels in HSM (U+R), fifth in HSM (R) and first in HSM (U). The sequel HFF Bahubali 2 the Conclusion on Sony Max was ranked third and first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R) and HSM (U) respectively. Two other HFFs-Bahubali the Begionning and Sarrainodu on Sony MAX were ranked third and fourth respectively in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi movies programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U).
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








