News Headline
Zee, ESPN make a grab for cricket rights again
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: The battle for grabbing the coveted telecast rights to Indian cricket has started. According to industry estimates, ESPN Star Sports has bid $325 million, while SET Max’s quote is in the region of $250 million and Prasar Bharati’s $225 million.
Though industry and Indian cricket board sources couldn’t confirm it, but Zee Telefilms is said to have bid higher than others.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had called for bids to the telecast rights of approximately 130 days of cricket between October 2005 to September 2009. The bid, which closed today, would open in a week’s time.
The BCCI had set a floor price of $2.14 million per day of cricket, totaling to a minimum of $278.2 million for 130 days. This means that only ESS and Zee Telefilms have bid higher than the floor price.
However, BCCI had expected to earn over $400 million from the sell of this over four-year property.
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India chief executive officer Kunal Dasgupta was not available for comment as he is currently in London. Senior executives from other broadcasters also could not be contacted.
Meanwhile, according to broadcast industry sources, a senior Zee representative is understood to have met up with former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya in South Africa recently during the Africa-Asia series to patch up the differences, which had cropped up after the contentious last round of bidding last year.
Subsequently, BCCI amended its eligibility criteria whereby it said that bidders need not have obtained licensing from the rights holders directly. It could be through an agency also, which means Zee could qualify.
However, a senior BCCI official told Indiantelevision.com this evening that Zee’s eligibility criteria is not clear.
In the past during the court cases involving the telecast rights to domestic cricket, Zee had argued that it had telecast matches on its international feed. Incidentally, Zee TV and Zee Sports also recently telecast the Afro-Asia Cup cricket series, which is an ICC-recognised event.
The BCCI official, without revealing any financial details, also admitted that the bids could be lower than expected as private broadcasters are wary of a proposed legislation whereby terrestrial rights of the matches would have to shared with pubcaster Doordarshan on a mandatory basis.
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.
