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NBA renews and expands agreement with Intelsat for International distribution
MUMBAI: Intelsat has announced that it has renewed and expanded its agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for international distribution of the league’s games.
The NBA distribution network will now include full-time and upgraded Intelsat capacity in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
NBA games and NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour television network will be backhauled from New York and transmitted from three of Intelsat’s teleports to four satellites in its global fleet; the IS-901 and IS-907 for Europe and the Middle East, the IS-805 for Latin America and the IS-902 for Asia. The NBA programming carried on this network will be received and re-transmitted by rightsholders and pay-tv networks around the world, asserts an official release.
NBA Entertainment senior vice president operations and technology Steve Hellmuth said, “Clear and reliable transmissions are crucial to bringing live game coverage and the latest NBA news and information to our millions of fans. Using Intelsat enables us to get all our domestic and international distribution services easily, from one place, and with the highest quality possible.”
“Intelsat is at the forefront of sports programming distribution; our capability to transmit content anywhere, via satellite, fiber or both is what sets us apart from other operators. Top-level professional sports programming such as the NBA is in global demand, and Intelsat is an ideal partner for programmers looking to tap new audiences with their content,” added Intelsat senior vice president Americas sales Kurt Riegelman.
Intelsat also transmits NBA live game coverage in both standard and high definition from most game venues to the NBA Entertainment headquarters in Secaucus, N.J., using its terrestrial fiber network in the United States.
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.
