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Cricket: DD asks news channels to pay up for footage
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati, managing Doordarshan, seems to be on a roll. After landing the Indo-Pak cricket telecast rights “for free”, the pubcaster is out to mop up revenue from news channels for usage of cricket video clips.
Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma confirmed to Indiantelevision.com that some news channels have agreed to pay for the cricket clips that have been used by them in excess of the free footage allowed.
The channels that have agreed to do so include NDTV, Aaj Tak, ESPN and Zee. A DD source said, “First day’s mop up itself would come to about Rs 600,000.” To avoid disputes regarding actual use of footage, the video clipping recording of each channel is being maintained by DD, while the monitoring is being done by TAM, which undertook a similar activity during the last Olympics.”
Sarma had written letters to all channel heads informing them of the terms and conditions for use of cricket match footage just before the first Test match started in Mohali on 8 March.
The terms and conditions allow 30 seconds of free usage of clippings for news bulletins, subject to a ceiling of two minutes a day. The terms, however, prohibit bulletins being positioned and promoted as cricket match programmes. In reality, every news channel has got a cricket special programme for which footage is important.
Prasar Bharati has also supplied details of the footage used by various channels, which are as under:
NDTV India – 280 minutes
Star News – 244 minutes
Headlines Today – 181 minutes
Sahara Samay – 177 minutes
NDTV 24 x 7 – 176 minutes
Zee News – 160 minutes
Aaj Tak – 157 minutes
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.
