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Asianet mulls launch of digital cable TV services in Q1 2006
MUMBAI: Rajan Raheja-owned Asianet Cable Vision (ACV), the largest cable TV network in Kerala, is planning to launch its digital services in the first quarter of 2006.
Kochi will be the first city in the state to offer digital cable TV. “We are set to launch the services by March-end. We will start with Kochi and then quickly spread out across the state. The digital headend will be at Kochi. As we have an underground fibre backbone, we can cover the entire state from this centralised headend,” says Satellite Communications Ltd CEO Mahesh Kumar.
The set-top boxes (STBs) will be priced at around Rs 4,000. The two-way enabled boxes with inbuilt cable modem, on the other hand, will cost approximately Rs 6,000. On offer will be around 150 channels. “We will be offering value-added services from the time of launch. We will push broadband through this as well. Even in the basic digital STB, we can offer broadband by connecting through an ethernet port,” says Kumar.
Asianet will make an initial investment of Rs 100 million. It will use Scientific Atlanta systems including the STBs, conditional access systems (CAS) and headend. Interestingly, sister company Hathway Cable & Datacom has selected NDS for its encryption systems and offers STBs from Humax of Korea.
But how does he expect the boxes to move when it has failed in other markets? “We are targeting 25,000 STBs in the first year of operations. Unlike other MSOs, we own the last mile and the customers,” says Kumar.
SMS DRIVEN CABLE CHANNEL
Meanwhile, Asianet today launched an SMS-driven cable channel which has music and movie content. “It is probably the first channel in the country which will telecast songs and movies only from the SMS-led voting system. We have tied up with all the mobile operators in the state and viewers will have to use our short code number – 67675. We have a revenue-share arrangement with the telecom operators,” says Kumar.
Asianet Satellite Communications runs the cable network, ACV, and a few cable channels. The company is held by Raheja who also has a 74 per cent stake in Hathway Cable & Datacom while Star Group owns the rest.
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.
