BENGALURU: News ratings across the country in various languages had spiked upwards in week 21 of 2019, the week during which exit opinion polls and election results were announced. Unlike their English language news channels peers, ratings of the top 5 Hindi news channels are almost back to normal in week 22 of 2019 (Saturday, 25 May 2019 to Friday, 31 May 2019, week under review) when compared to the average ratings of top 5 Hindi news channels across 9 weeks (weeks 13 to 20 of 2019) as per Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data. Combined weekly ratings of the top 5 English news channels in week 22 had peaked at their highest ever so far in week 22 of 2019, surpassing even their ratings in election results week- week 21.
The combined nine-week average ratings of the top 5 Hindi news channels in the overall Hindi speaking market – HSM (U+R) were 607.792 million weekly impressions, in week 22 of 2019 they were 698.591 million weekly impressions, or 15 per cent higher. In the rural Hindi speaking market - HSM (R) the nine-week average ratings of the top 5 Hindi news channels were 270.258 million weekly impressions, in week 22 of 2019 they were 300.784 million weekly impressions or about 11 per cent more. In the urban Hindi speaking market – HSM (U), the nine-week average ratings of the top 5 Hindi news channels were 341.182 million weekly impressions, in week 22 of 2019 they were 399.154 million weekly impressions or about 17 per cent higher.
Let us see the performance of the top 5 Hindi news channels in week 22 in relation to week 21 of 2019
HSM (U+R)
Aaj Tak held onto its usual first rank in week 22 of 2019 with 180.455 million weekly impressions as compared to 335.841 million weekly impressions in the previous week in the combined Hindi speaking urban and rural markets – HSM (U+R). Aaj Tak was followed by India TV at second rank with 136.544 million weekly impressions in the week under review as compared to third rank and 193.985 million weekly impressions in week 21 in HSM (U+R).
Also, climbing up a rank to third place in week 22 of 2019 was Republic Bharat with 133.561 million weekly impressions as compared to 188.787 million weekly impressions in HSM (U+R) in week 21. At fourth place in week 22 of 2019 was News18 India which had also climbed up a rank. News18 India scored 129.795 million weekly impressions in week 22 as compared to 186.475 million weekly impressions in week 21 of 2019. At fifth rank was ABP News with 118.246 million weekly impressions in week 22 of 2019 as compared to second rank and 243.653 million weekly impressions in week 21.
HSM (R)
In HSM rural – HSM (R) also, Aaj Tak retained its first rank with 83.626 million weekly impressions in week 22 of 2019 as compared to 160.485 million weekly impressions in the previous week. Republic Bharat climbed up to second rank with 60.428 million weekly impressions in week 22 of 2019 as compared to third rank and 85.795 million weekly impressions in week 21.
Dropping down a rank to third place during the week 22 under review in BARC’s weekly list if top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (R) was ABP News with 55.567 million weekly impressions as compared to second rank and 120.212 million weekly impressions in week 21. Climbing up a place to fourth rank was India TV with 53.606 million weekly impressions in week 22 as compared to 74.313 million weekly impressions in week 21. At fifth place was News18 India with 47.557 million weekly impressions in week 22 of 2019 as compared to fourth place and 74.564 million weekly impressions in week 21.
HSM (U)
In HSM urban – HSM (U), Aaj Tak was at first place in week 22 of 2019 with 96.820 million weekly impressions as compared to 173.356 million weekly impressions in week 21. Aaj Tak was followed by India TV at second place with 82.938 million weekly impressions as compared to third rank and 119.672 million weekly impressions in week 21.
At third rank in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi news channels in HSM (U) was News18 India with 82.238 million weekly impressions in week 22 of 2019 as compared to fourth rank and 111.910 million weekly impressions in week 21. Republic Bharat also climbed up a place to fourth rank in week 22 of 2019 with 73.132 million weekly impressions as compared to fifth rank and 102.992 million weekly impressions in week 21. Zee News re-entered the top 5 Hindi news channels list in HSM (U) in week 22 of 2019 with 64.026 million weekly impressions.
