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Nimbus Sport targets Rs 11 billion sales for 2006-2007
MUMBAI: Nimbus Sport, the sports marketing arm of Nimbus Communications Limited on Saturday announced its plans to target over Rs 11 billion ($ 250 million) in sales from sports activity in 2006 and 2007.
This figure is spread across various sports properties including Friday’s deal for Pakistan Cricket Board sponsorship and signage rights for five series across three years. Also, Nimbus Sport has been signed on for a five-year television production and sponsorship marketing contract of Indian football by Zee Sports.
Commenting on this announcement, Nimbus Sports CEO Digvijay Singh said, “We are delighted to win the PCB multi-year contract as that extends our business footprint in cricket to virtually every major test playing nation. We are also in talks for three major international rights management and television production contracts this year.”
Amongst Nimbus Sport’s prominent on going multi-year contracts are the management of commercial rights of ICC cricket events – Champions Trophy ’06 and the Cricket World Cup ’07 (mandated by GCC), the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motor Sport (mandated by Team India), the Afro Asia Cup cricket ’06 and ’07(mandated by ACC), Kingfisher Challenger Series ’05, Mumbai Cricket Festival 05-06 and several other regional sports properties.
Nimbus Sports president Satish Menon said, “The football contract from Zee is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring to bear our global best practices to take Indian football to a strong no. 2 sport position in India. As demonstrated by our monetisation and globalisation of the Kingfisher Challenger series cricket, the rights management can take India’s domestic sport to a global level.”
Queried over how Nimbus had arrived at these projections, Menon admitted that the bulk of the revenues were expected to come in from the World Cup (to be held in the West Indies) and secondly from next year’s Champions Trophy (India hosting).
Menon said the sales targets from existing sponsorship and TV rights for the World Cup were $100 million and for the Champions it was $35 million. On air sales from both tourneys were projected to garner $55 million, Menon stated.
Expectations from some of the other tourneys break down as follows:
Next year’s Afro-Asia Cup, which India is likely to host – $8.2 to 10 million.
A-1 year one – $4 million; year two – $6 -7 million,
Football – $ 6-7 million
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.
