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News Corp, AP form sports JV in the US
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate News Corporation and news service provider The Associated Press have announced that they have formed a 50:50 joint venture in the US. Stats will produce sports data and content.
The joint venture will combine Stats, which is a sports information and statistical analysis company, owned by News Corp and MegaSports, AP’s multimedia sports service. Fox Networks Group president and CEO Tony Vinciquerra said, “The combination of AP MegaSports and Stats will create a one-stop shopping destination for organisations interested in providing the best and most comprehensive sports information and context to their consumers.”
Stats CEO Gary Walrath says, “It is a privilege and an exciting opportunity to combine forces with the award-winning sports journalism team at the AP. With the editorial content of MegaSports and the research data of Stats, we can offer superior sports coverage to our clients in the US and accelerate our rollout into international markets, including Asia, Australia and the UK.”
Walrath will serve as president and CEO of the new joint venture. He will report to a board equally comprising representatives from News Corp and AP. The company will retain Stats’ current headquarters in Chicago and its offices in Los Angeles.
AP and News Corp state that Stats will offer clients unrivalled customer service, technical proficiency and event coverage. The agreement leverages news produced by AP sports writers and photographers with Stats’ in-depth statistics and historical databases to produce a complete package of sports information for new markets, both in the United States and internationally.
Stats will be the most prolific sports information source for several key business segments: professional teams; sports agents; sports broadcast production, cable and satellite networks; interactive television; broadband, wireless and internet; game developers and fantasy sports providers; print media and wire services. Packaging and sales of sports information for AP members will continue to be done at AP.
Meanwhile, Fox Interactive Media (Fim) will acquire Scout Media the parent company of Scout.com which is an independent online sports network, and Scout Publishing, producer of sports magazine 47. Fim states that the addition of Scout.com gives it one of the web’s stickiest sites with a loyal user base of more than two million unique users.
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.
