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BCCI to launch portal in association with TCN
MUMBAI: With a view to building a stronger brand for the bat and ball game The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has signed an agreement with The Cricket Network (TCN) to design, build and operate the BCCI’s cricket web-portal.
The initial phase of the web-portal is anticipated to soon go live. When fully functional (scheduled to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy in October, 2006) the web-portal will enable cricket internet users around the world to access various levels of news, highlights, archival footage, statistics, streaming video, merchandising and mobile phone content.
BCCI VP Lalit Modi says, “Our vision is to embrace the entire Indian community worldwide and over time we will make available the web-portal to all Indian cricket associations with multi-lingual capabilities.
“The BCCI will promote this portal on all TV channels that broadcast the Indian home games through branding, which will be prominent on BCCI’s live TV feeds around the world. This will help it to become one of the most prominent portals in the world”.
Through TCN, BCCI’s cricket portal will bring together media, content (Sportsbrand), technology and sporting expertise from around the world to launch what is slated to become the leading global sports network.
TCN has selected as its preferred technology partner Sun Microsystems to provide IT infrastructure solutions and support for the implementation of the company’s digital asset management system that will power the BCCI’s web-portal. This approach will facilitate multi-distribution by way of cable & satellite, audio, hand-held and future devices of the web-portal’s cricket and lifestyle content.
TCN director Luke Reinehr says, “We aim to provide cricket content to fans as they want it, when they want it and how they want it. We consider that this sports network has great application to all cricket fans around the world.
“We are proud to have chosen Sun Microsystems. The Sun people from India, Australia and the US have been superb in understanding the joint vision of the BCCI and TCN and in developing the right solutions. We chose Sun because of their world-class architecture that supports millions of businesses across the globe, and in particular their work with the enormously successful sports site MLB.com”.
Sun’s global VP for media and entertainment Juan Dewar said, “Sun Microsystems is very pleased to work with TCN to create the BCCI web portal for cricket in India. We are able to leverage our award winning digital asset management reference architecture to provide a flexible infrastructure that provides compelling content to millions of cricket fans everywhere. Our approach and focus on this industry segment has helped us to work with TCN and BCCI to understand their joint vision and develop a scalable, robust infrastructure to support their needs.”
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.
