News Headline
DD to share revenue with BCCI
NEW DELHI: National broadcaster Doordarshan, which will cough up Rs 1,000 million, for telecast rights to 31 days of upcoming cricket, will have to share the revenue earned from the telecast of the matches with BCCI on a 50:50 basis.
The formula that has been worked out is that any revenue earned between Rs 1,000-2,000 million would be kept by DD after paying the rights fee to the cricket board.
If Prasar Bharati’s marketing division goes on the overdrive — as is being claimed with Rs 600 million worth of ads already booked by DD over the past two days — and manages to mop up revenues over Rs 2,000 million, then the surplus would be equally shared between DD and BCCI.
For example, if DD manages revenues worth Rs 2,250 million, then BCCI’s share (including the rights fee) would be Rs. 1,025 million.
Thirty-one days of cricket include four and two Tests with Australia and South Africa, respectively, apart from the lone one-dayer featuring Pakistan as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati is already close to concluding a deal with Radio Australia for the radio rights of the India-Australia series.
Till the time of writing this report, a formal agreement had not been inked, but Prasar Bharati officials were optimistic that it would fetch a decent amount, considering radio listenership is quite sizeable Down under.
Meanwhile, Prasar Bharti said on Monday said it is ready to work towards getting the telecast rights for the full four-year period that was originally up for grabs.
“If opportunity presents itself, then certainly,” Prasar Bharti CEO KS Sarma has been quoted as saying.
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.
