News Headline
Zeel channels continue to rule Hindi channels across genres in week 4 of 2019
BENGALURU: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) channels – the free to air (FTA) Hindi GEC Zee Anmol and the flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV were ranked second and fourth in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 10 channels across genres in week 4 of 2019. Seven Hindi GECs, two Telugu GECs and one Tamil GEC constituted BARC’s weekly across genres list for week 4 of 2019 (Saturday, 19 January 2019 to Friday, 25 January 2019). From the network’s perspective, there were four Star India channels, three Zeel channels and one channel each from the Sun TV Network, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and Viacom18.
At its normal first rank in week 4 of 2019 was Sun TV with 868.845 million weekly impressions as compared to 1188.369 weekly impressions in week 3 of 2019. Sun TV also led BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Tamil channels in the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry market and three 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.
Climbing up one place to second rank was Zee Anmol. At third rank, the channel garnered 754.080 million weekly impressions in week 4 of 2019 as compared to 759.756 million weekly impressions in week 3 of 2019. Zee Anmol was 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) and HSM (R) and was ranked ninth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefilms-produced soaps Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kundali Bhagya were ranked fourth and second 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 (U+R) and second and first respectively 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).
Dropping down a place from the previous week was Star India’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa at third place in week 4 of 2019 with 712.438 weekly impressions as compared with 777.884 million weekly impressions and second rank in week 3 of 2019. Star Maa was ranked first in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market. Four of the five top Telugu programmes were from Star Maa 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.
Retaining its previous few weeks’ fourth rank in week 3 of 2019 was Zee TV with 709.037 million weekly impressions during the period under review as compared to 705.352 million weekly impressions in week 3. Zee TV was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and third in HSM (U), and was ranked seventh in HSM (R).
Star India’s flagship Hindi GEC Star Plus also climbed up a rank in week 4 of 2019 with 694.385 million weekly impressions to fifth place as compared to 640.648 million weekly impressions in week 3. Star Plus was ranked third in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R) and was ranked first in HSM (U) and eighth in HSM (R). The long running soap Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai on Star Plus was ranked third in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U).
Following its older sibling channel was another Star India Hindi pay-TV GEC channel Star Bharat at sixth rank. The channel garnered 666.682 million weekly impressions in week 4 as compared to 622.466 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. The mythological soap Radhakrishn on the channel ranked fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R).
Star Bharat was followed by another Star India FTA Hindi GEC Star Utsav which climbed up two ranks to seventh place in week 4 of 2019. The channel scored 646.107 million weekly impressions as compared to 608.530 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Star Utsav was ranked fifth, second and seventh in BARC’s list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U) respectively.
Viacom18’s flagship Hindi GEC Colors retained its previous week’s eighth rank in week 4 of 2019 with 627.601 million weekly impressions as compared to 621.420 million weekly impressions in week 3 of 2019. Colors was ranked sixth in BARC’s weekly list of top 10 Hindi GECs in HSM (U+R), ninth in HSM (R) and fourth in HSM (U). The Balaji Telefims-produced Naagin 3 and the reality show Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi Jigar Pe Trigger were ranked first and second respectively in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GECs programmes during primetime based on average rating across all airings (original and repeat) in the week in HSM (U+R).and second and first respectively in HSM (U).
SPN’s flagship Hindi GEC Sony Entertainment Television (SET) climbed up a place to ninth rank from the previous week to ninth rank in week 4 of 2019 with 610.917 million weekly impressions as compared to 600.428 million weekly impressions in week 3 of 2019. SET was ranked seventh 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 fifth in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi programmes during primetime in HSM (U). Also, the reality show Super Dancer Chapter 3-Grand Premiere on the channel was ranked fourth in BARC’s list of top 5 Hindi GEC programmes during primetime in HSM (U).
Zeel’s flagship Telugu GEC Zee Telugu dropped five places to tenth rank in week 4 of 2019 with 560.469 million weekly impressions as compared to 644.118 million weekly impressions in week 3. Zee Telugu was ranked second in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Telugu channels in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market.
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.








