BENGALURU: Aaj Tak, the Hindi news channel from the Living Media Group, continued its almost unassailable leadership of the Hindi news genre in week 17 of 2019. The channel has generally been ranked first in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in the combined urban (U) and rural (U) Hindi speaking market or HSM (U+R) as well as individual HSM (U) and HSM (R). There have been exceptions during which the channel was pipped by some of its peer channels, but they have been too few and generally far in-between.
In week 17 of 2019 (Saturday, 20 April 2019 to Friday, 26 April 2019) there were minor changes in terms of the ranking and presence of some channels in BARC’s weekly list of top 15 Hindi news channels (NCCS All : 15+ Individuals) in the respective HSM (U+R), HSM (R) and HSM (U). The weekly list for HSM (R) saw maximum variation in week 17 of 2019 as compared to week 16.
In HSM (U+R) during week 17 of 2019, the four top ranking were same as in week 16. Aaj Tak scored 156.680 million weekly impressions as compared to 141.728 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Aaj Tak was followed by India TV which retained its previous week’s second rank with 115.770 million weekly impressions as compared to 116.682 million weekly impressions in week 16. Also continuing on at third rank in week 17 of 2019 was the Arnab Goswami led Republic Bharat with 113.702 million weekly insertions as compared to 109.567 million weekly impressions. At fourth place was News18 India with 109.282 million weekly impressions as compared to 102.005 million weekly impressions in week 16. ABP News entered BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U+R) in week 17 of with 100.753 million weekly impressions at fifth rank.
In HSM (R), Aaj Tak was ranked first in week 17 of 2019 with 70.475 million weekly impressions as compared to 76.394 million weekly impressions in week 16. Republic Bharat was ranked second with 54.386 million weekly impressions as compared to 51.284 million weekly impressions in week 16. ABP News jumped up to third rank with 47.418 million weekly impressions as compared to fourth rank and 44.031 million weekly impressions in the previous week. India TV dropped a place to fourth rank in week 17 of 2019 with 46.296 million weekly impressions as compared to 48.186 million weekly impressions and third rank in week 16. News18 India entered BARC weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (R) week 17 of 2019 at fifth rank with 41.693 million weekly impressions.
In HSM (U), all the 5 channels in BARC weekly lists maintained their previous week’s ranks. Aaj Tak was ranked one with 86.206 million weekly impressions as compared to 76.394 million weekly impressions. Also retaining its previous week’s second rank in week 17 of 2019 was India TV with 69.473 million weekly impressions as compared to 68.496 million weekly impressions in week 16. News18 at rank three scored 67.589 million weekly impressions as compared to 64.131 million weekly impressions in week 16. At fourth rank in HSM (U) was Republic Bharat with 59.316 million weekly impressions as compared to 58.283 million weekly impressions in week 16. At fifth rank was Zee News with 58.033 million weekly impressions as compared to 58.211 million weekly impressions.
