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Space TV, Sun Direct book transponders on Insat 4
MUMBAI: Space TV and Sun Direct are preparing to launch their direct-to-home (DTH) services, having booked transponder space on Insat 4 series satellites.
Space TV, the 80:20 joint venture between the Tatas and Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star Group, has hired 11 Ku band transponders on Insat 4A. Sources say a test run is planned for November.
Insat 4A is scheduled to launch in August-September.
As an alternative option (in the unlikely event of Insat 4A failing), transponder space has also been booked on Insat 4C, which is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2006.
“Space TV wanted all the 12 Ku band transponders on Insat 4A. But Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has assured them 11 transponders on the satellite which is set for launch in August-September. All the 12 Ku band transponders on 4A are booked. A backup facility is made with Insat 4C, if there is a launch problem with 4A,” says a source.
Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Direct, meanwhile, has booked four – six transponders in the initial phase on 4B or 4C. A source in Isro says Insat 4B is likely to launch in the second or third quarter of 2006, after the launch of 4C.
DTH providers can beam around 12 channels per transponder, depending on their compression technology. The availability of transponder space would limit the channel offerings from the DTH service providers. Insat 4A and Insat 4B have a capacity of 12 Ku band and 12 C-band transponders each. Insat 4C, on the other hand, has just 12 Ku band transponders.
Dish TV and Doordarshan’s DD Direct use the NSS 6 satellite for their DTH services.
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.
